Proactive Grad

How to find Research Papers: A Cheat Sheet for Graduate Students

Aruna Kumarasiri

  • July 23, 2022
  • PRODUCTIVITY

How to find research papers

“I will read this paper later.” I thought to myself before adding another paper to my overflowing internet browser.

Of course, I didn’t read it later.

Since my workflow was unorganized, I missed out on reading many important papers.

This was a crucial period in my undergraduate career. I had been working with a company for my final year project and knew success would require a solid intellectual foundation. For many hours, I read papers, determined to master the literature in my field.

“How to find research papers quickly?” has been a never-ending question for me.

How to find research papers_meme

However, I was unable to succeed despite my best intentions, largely due to inefficiency. In addition, I did not have a system in place for keeping track of new papers being published daily in my topic area or checking if I had missed key studies.

Nothing is worse than forgetting where you saved an important research paper. If I couldn’t find that specific paper, I couldn’t do anything else, and sometimes a day would pass before I found it.

As I was about to begin my PhD, I convinced myself that I should be more organized.

This is the first post of the four-part blog series:  The Bulletproof Literature Management System . Follow the links below to read the other posts in the series:

  • How to How to find Research Papers (You are here)
  • How to Manage Research Papers
  • How to Read Research Papers
  • How to Organize Research Papers

My workflow has evolved through many iterations, and I have finally found a system that suits my needs after lots of trial and error.

These tips will help you how to find research papers quickly and more efficiently.

Get recommendations from your supervisor

You may have already received a folder of information from your supervisor regarding your thesis topic. Your supervisor should have already been working on the proposal before you were hired for a funded project.

My supervisor, for example, has a folder named “Literature” for each project folder that contains all the important papers one might need to complete that project.

Therefore, asking your supervisor is one of the most straightforward ways to find research papers.

Even though your supervisor has not put up a folder like that, you can still ask them for recommendations, and they can point out a couple of pertinent articles. From there, you can find the references in the papers they recommended.

Use feed aggregators

Feed aggregators, such as Feedly , Inoreader , and NewsBlur , help me organize my feeds. In the morning, I dedicate five minutes to scanning my feed. For most papers, I just glance at the title and scroll past. Whenever I come across something interesting, I add it to my ‘Read Later’ folder.

Instead of storing papers in an unsecured location, my papers are more secure. As a result, it is much easier for me to look at that folder later on.

Use literature mapping tools

ResearchRabbit , Inciteful , Litmaps , and Connected Papers are literature-mapping tools you can use to dig deeper into a topic. It lets you see which papers are the most groundbreaking in a given field based on their citation networks.

This might not be very helpful if you’re doing research in a relatively new area. Finding relevant research papers in such cases may be more challenging.

This is why checking research databases would be a better option.

Use standard research databases

Scopus has strong searching capabilities and publishes metrics that can measure the relative importance of papers in their fields. However, it may take up to 2 years before an article is included in Scopus.

It has more features for sorting and filtering, so you might not feel overwhelmed when searching.

Therefore, if you are just starting your research, SCOPUS might be an excellent option for finding research papers.

ResearchGate

In addition to traditional searching for publications, ResearchGate offers the following features:

  • Follow researchers in your field, so you can keep up with their work.
  • Keep up-to-date with the research projects of other researchers by following their research projects, and
  • Comment on publications, ask questions, and send direct messages to interact with others.

As most of the comments on ResearchGate are coming from experts in their respective fields, the QnA section may be a great resource for finding the right paper for your research.

An RSS(Really Simple Syndication) feed, as the name implies, is a straightforward solution. By subscribing to RSS, users can access content from specific websites.

You can find RSS feeds for nearly every major journal and preprint server on their home pages – just look for the orange icon. As new articles are added to PubMed or Google Scholar, you can even subscribe to specific keywords.

Use academic textbooks the right way

If you are new to a particular research area, it would be best to start by reading textbooks to understand the topic better.

Despite the lack of depth and detail in a textbook, it can provide you with the basic concepts you need to read further. Furthermore, textbooks often include extensive lists of references as well as this information to get you started . Download the relevant articles from these references.

You might feel overwhelmed if you try to read an academic textbook from beginning to end. For this reason, read only the sections which contain the information you need for your project.

Review papers are game changers

A review paper on your topic is a great starting point for finding good references and getting a broad overview of your research topic.

After reading the review paper, you can read the references cited therein.

You are reading a much more comprehensive summary of the topic than you would have found reading ten individual research papers on the same topic if you found a highly relevant review paper for your research.

Look for technical reports and theses

Make sure you don’t limit yourself to research papers when looking for references. A technical report or code document on your topic may contain important citations (as well as practical information).

There is nothing that compares to a PhD thesis when it comes to the depth and extent of analytical work. See which references students have cited in their theses on your topic.

If you find a relevant thesis for your literature review, you will have extensive information about the research topic in one place, saving you a ton of time.

Google Scholar

The best for the last!

Due to its versatility and efficiency in finding academic papers, I decided to include Google Scholar separately from the database section.

I enjoy using Google Scholar among all the fancy databases available. One drawback to Google Scholar is that it lacks the ability to search for keywords and filter results.

Therefore, if you are just starting your research and aren’t sure what “keywords” to search for, Google Scholar might not be your first choice.

The advantage of Google Scholar is that if you are already familiar with your field of study and already know what you are doing, you will be able to find relevant research papers more quickly.

Use Google Scholar’s search function to locate relevant articles. Furthermore, you can subscribe to updates from colleagues in your field to access the latest references. The publisher of a journal paper may also report an article faster to Google Scholar than another database, which can take up to two years to include an article.

Images courtesy: Internet marketing vector created by jcomp – www.freepik.com

Aruna Kumarasiri

Aruna Kumarasiri

Founder at Proactive Grad, Materials Engineer, Researcher, and turned author. In 2019, he started his professional carrier as a materials engineer with the continuation of his research studies. His exposure to both academic and industrial worlds has provided many opportunities for him to give back to young professionals.

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Educational resources and simple solutions for your research journey

finding research papers for literature review

How and Where to Find Research Papers for Literature Reviews

The literature review is an integral part of the research process. Finding the correct research papers for a literature review can be a daunting task, especially for early career researchers. This is more so in the digital age, where the sheer quantum of research available can drown researchers who attempt to sift through case studies, journals, online platforms, repositories, and databases. Regardless of whether you are just starting a career in research or are a veteran in the field, looking for relevant sources for a literature review can be time-consuming and frustrating.

In this article, we will provide valuable tips and explore various resources to understand how to find research papers relevant to literature reviews efficiently.

Table of Contents

Academic Databases and Search Engines

To master how to find research papers, start with academic databases and search engines. Platforms such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Scopus are indispensable for accessing a diverse array of scholarly articles. Enhance your search effectiveness by using advanced search options, employing specific keywords, and exploring related terms. Understanding and using the subject headings or descriptors provided by these databases is crucial for honing in on the most relevant papers quickly.

Reference Lists and Citation Networks

An effective strategy for finding research papers lies within the reference lists of the papers you already have. These lists can be gateways to additional, highly relevant sources. Similarly, investigating citation networks—observing which papers have cited key articles in your field—can unveil contemporary studies and emerging perspectives.

Accessing University Libraries

University libraries are a primary source of information on where you can find research papers. They offer access to a wealth of research papers and journals, including databases like JSTOR and ScienceDirect, for those seeking free resources. Library catalogs are instrumental in finding papers by title, author, or subject, and librarians can provide expert navigation through these resources.

Engaging with Online Academic Platforms

Platforms such as ResearchGate and Academia.edu, aside from being academic social networks, are valuable for finding research papers. They facilitate access to scholarly articles and enable researchers to share their work and connect with peers. Repositories like arXiv, bioRxiv, and SSRN provide early access to preprints across various disciplines, broadening your research scope.

Networking through Professional Associations and Conferences

For insights on where to find research papers, tap into professional associations and conferences. These platforms often grant members access to specialized publications and maintain online libraries of scholarly work. Conferences are also a goldmine for obtaining preprints or drafts of papers and for networking with fellow researchers.

Institutional Repositories

Institutional repositories are a go-to resource for finding research papers. These digital collections, hosted by academic institutions, offer open access to a variety of research outputs. Use keywords and subject categories to navigate these repositories for a rich selection of freely available scholarly material.

Government Reports and Policy Documents

Government agencies and research institutes are sometimes overlooked but can be significant sources of research papers. Their published reports and policy documents often include references to pertinent studies, providing valuable insights for your literature review.

By applying these expert strategies, you can streamline your search for relevant research papers. Remember, the quest is not just about where to find scientific articles; it’s about adopting a systematic and informed approach to locate the best resources. Utilizing targeted keywords, keeping abreast of the latest research, and exploring various sources will immensely enhance the quality of your literature reviews.

References:  

  • https://www.academictransfer.com/en/blog/how-to-find-papers-when-you-do-your-literature-review/  
  • https://www.scribendi.com/academy/articles/free_online_journal_and_research_databases.en.html  

R Discovery is a literature search and research reading app that uses your interests to instantly create personalized reading feeds. Researchers can stay updated on the latest, most relevant content from its continually expanding library of 115M+  research articles  sourced from trusted aggregators like  CrossRef ,  Unpaywall ,  PubMed,   PubMed  Central, Open Alex as well as prestigious publishing houses like  Springer Nature ,  JAMA , IOP,  Taylor & Francis , NEJM,  BMJ ,  Karger , SAGE,  Emerald Publishing  and more. The top-rated app in its space, R Discovery’s carefully curated features give you the power to choose what, where, and how you read research.    

Try the app for free or upgrade to  R Discovery Prime , which unlocks unlimited access to premium features that let you listen to research on the go, read in your language, invite collaborators, auto sync with top reference managers, multiple feeds, and more. It’s like having the world of research  at your fingertips ! Choose a simpler, smarter way to find and read research –  Get R Discovery Prime now at just  US $39 a year!

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Expert Commentary

How to find an academic research paper

Looking for research on a particular topic? We’ll walk you through the steps we use here at Journalist's Resource.

where to find research papers reddit

Republish this article

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License .

by David Trilling, The Journalist's Resource October 18, 2017

This <a target="_blank" href="https://journalistsresource.org/home/find-academic-research-paper-for-journalists/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://journalistsresource.org">The Journalist's Resource</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://journalistsresource.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cropped-jr-favicon-150x150.png" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

Journalists frequently contact us looking for research on a specific topic. While we have published a number of resources on how to understand an academic study and how to pick a good one — and why using social science research enriches journalism and public debate — we have little on the mechanics of how to search. This tip sheet will briefly discuss the resources we use.

Google Scholar

Let’s say we’re looking for papers on the opioid crisis. We often start with Google Scholar, a free service from Google that searches scholarly articles, books and documents rather than the entire web: scholar.google.com .

But a search for the keyword “opioids” returns almost half a million results, some from the 1980s. Let’s narrow down our search. On the left, you see options “anytime” (the default), “since 2013,” “since 2016,” etc. Try “since 2017” and the results are now about 17,000. You can also insert a custom range to search for specific years. And you can include patents or citations, if you like (unchecking these will slightly decrease the number of results).

Still too many results. To narrow the search further, try any trick you’d use with Google. (Here are some tips from MIT on how to supercharge your Google searches.) Let’s look for papers on opioids published in 2015 that look at race and exclude fentanyl (Google: “opioids +race -fentanyl”). Now we’re down to 2,750 results. Better.

where to find research papers reddit

Unless you tell Google to “sort by date,” the search engine will generally weight the papers that have been cited most often so you will see them first.

Try different keywords. If you’re looking for a paper that studies existing research, include the term “meta-analysis.” Try searching by the author’s name, if you know it, or title of the paper. Look at the endnotes in papers you like for other papers. And look at the papers that cited the paper you like; they’ll probably be useful for your project.

If you locate a study and it’s behind a paywall, try these steps:

  • Click on “all versions.” Some may be available for free. (Though check the date, as this may include earlier drafts of a paper.)
  • Reach out to the journal and the scholar. (The scholar’s email is often on the abstract page. Also, scholars generally have an easy-to-find webpage.) One is likely to give you a free copy of the paper, especially if you are a member of the press.
  • In regular Google, search for the study by title and you might find a free version.

More tips on using Google Scholar from MIT and Google .

Other databases

  • PubMed Central at the National Library of Medicine: If you are working on a topic that has a relationship to health, try this database run by the National Institutes of Health. This free site hosts articles or abstracts and links to free versions of a paper if they are available. Often Google Scholar will point you here.
  • If you have online access to a university library or a local library, try that.
  • Directory of Open Access Journals .
  • Digital Public Library of America .
  • Subscription services include org and Web of Science .

For more on efforts to make scholarly research open and accessible for all, check out SPARC , a coalition of university libraries.

Citations as a measure of impact

How do you know if a paper is impactful? Some scholars use the number of times the paper has been cited by other scholars. But that can be problematic: Some papers cite papers that are flawed simply to debunk them. Some topics will be cited more often than others. And new research, even if it’s high-quality, may not be cited yet.

The impact factor measures how frequently a journal, not a paper, is cited.

This guide from the University of Illinois, Chicago, has more on metrics.

Here’s a useful source of new papers curated by Boston Globe columnist Kevin Lewis for National Affairs.

Another way to monitor journals for new research is to set up an RSS reader like Feedly . Most journals have a media page where you can sign up for press releases or newsletters featuring the latest research.

Relevant tip sheets from Journalist’s Resource:

  • 10 things we wish we’d known earlier about research
  • How to tell good research from bad: 13 questions journalists should ask  (This post also discusses how to determine if a journal is good.)
  • Lessons on online search techniques, reading studies, understanding data and methods
  • Guide to critical thinking, research, data and theory: Overview for journalists

About The Author

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David Trilling

where to find research papers reddit

May 30, 2023

Websites for pirated research papers, during my research, i found various reddit discussions that addressed the issue of accessing pirated research papers and alternative methods to find them. there was a general consensus among reddit users that websites like sci-hub, researchgate, and arxiv.org provide access to research papers for free, although some users cautioned against using sci-hub due to ethical and legal concerns . users also suggested alternative methods like using open access button, reaching out to authors directly, and searching for papers on authors' research group websites . overall, the sources were quite related to the original query, and my uncertainty is relatively low given the information provided in these discussions..

Contributors

Jump to research

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Have an opinion? Send us proposed edits/additions and we may incorporate them into this article with credit.

Preferred Methods to Access Research Papers

where to find research papers reddit

"Don’t neglect ResearchGate either. That’s a free and 100% legal avenue where researchers post their own work."

"Try arXiv.org as well, they host papers for free."

"I use Researchgate and CiteSeer as well as scihub, libgen and arxiv.org"

Alternative Methods to Access Research Papers

"I only use sci-hub if all else fails, but it usually is able to find anything not accessible through usual means. Especially handy for more obscure articles from pre 90’s, since most library licenses don’t go back so far. Just to add, I use a chrome extension called “Open access button” which will check if any (legal) OA version of the paper exists when you are on the web version."

"Regardless, sci-hub is the resource I use, and it’s done well by me for over half a decade now."

Pirated Research Paper Websites

"I only know of Sci-Hub and then /r/Scholar. I have only used the Scholar subreddit once after I couldn't find my article on Sci-Hub, but I got the paper I needed rather quickly."

"Nexus is the best way right now. Their [telegram bots](https://twitter.com/the_superpirate/status/1621818918292561920) have almost all articles up to date., especially Elsevier. paste DOI and Single click, done."

Ethical and Legal Concerns

Conclusions, jump to top, "public access: the pros and cons of open-access publishing".

Not used in article

"[D] Thoughts on IEEE Access as a journal?"

"what is your opinion about open access journals", "(pdf) piracy: a threat to academicians and publishers - researchgate", "is downloading really stealing the ethics of digital piracy", "(pdf) legality and ethics of web scraping - researchgate", "lpt: when looking for more reliable, professional sources for academic writing. try adding pdf on the end of your search", "how can i gain access to scholarly articles for free to use as sources for a paper".

Here are my notes:

  • Reddit thread from 3 years ago with 11 points discussing the issue of gaining access to scholarly articles for free, particularly for academic research papers.
  • Users suggest various tools to access scholarly articles for free, including Google Scholar, DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals), BASE (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine), and gen.lib.rus.ec (Scientific Articles). These tools can help search for Open Access publications and find PDFs of articles that are not paywalled.
  • Another user suggests talking to librarians about remote access options, particularly if one is part of a university.
  • Other suggestions include looking for specific OA journals and even reaching out to authors directly for access. Various academic databases, like the ones available through university libraries, may also be helpful for those affiliated with an institution.
  • The legality of some of these methods are questioned by some users, including Sci-hub and other tools that may involve non-legal means.
  • Many users express gratitude for the suggestions provided, indicating that the issue of accessing scholarly articles for free is more widespread than one may think.

"Access to published articles for free from journals such as Nature?"

Unfortunately, since this is a Reddit post with over 30 comments and replies, summarizing this page in 400 words without losing important information would be difficult. Nonetheless, the main points that I see as relevant to the query are:

  • Various websites allow users to access research papers for free, including Sci-Hub, ResearchGate, arXiv.org, MedRXiv, and bioRxiv.
  • Different Reddit users suggest different methods to access the papers, including pasting the URL or DOI of the article on sci-hub or searching for the article directly on the site; using an Open Access button extension for Chrome to check if an open-access version of the article exists or a PaperPanda Chrome extension to automatically find a full-text copy of the article; visiting the author’s research group website to access their posted research for free or reaching out to the author directly to request a copy.
  • Users mention that they prefer accessible sources over Sci-Hub, but resort to it when no other option is available. Some caution users to prioritize checking whether an open-access version of the paper is available and to reach out to authors first before using Sci-Hub.
  • Elsevier, a publishing company, receives extensive criticism in the discussion for their predatory fees and poorly-designed manuscript submission pages.
  • Users suggest that library subscriptions may provide free access to certain articles, but access is typically limited to certain journals and depending on the affiliation of the individual.
  • Some users caution that preprints - versions of papers that have not yet been peer-reviewed - may have errors that are not caught yet, so users should take the extra step to fact-check those papers.
  • Extension authors commend the Unpaywall extension that displays a link to an unpaywalled version of the paper when the user is on a journal page.
  • Users discuss the struggles of submitting papers, including experiencing errors and difficult interactions with publishers, and the frustration of high fees.
  • Some users provide helpful tips like checking Google Scholar for free versions of papers or using archive.is to access the internet archive version of blocked URLs.

"Home - Free Legal Research Resources - Harvard Library Guides"

"7 ways to access journal articles without breaking the bank - bitesize bio", "📌 here are some sites where you can find sources and references for your review of related literature (rrl) in research and the most powerful academic search engines for references".

  • The webpage provides a list of websites where resources and references for research can be found, including various academic search engines.
  • The list includes links to websites like PDFDrive, Global ETD Search, Theses.fr, Springer Link, OhioLINK, Lib Guides Community, DOAJ, BASE, Eric, Infotopia, Google Scholar, Refseek, The Virtual LRC, SweetSearch, and DeepDyve.
  • PDFDrive is described as a source for over 205 million books for direct download in all disciplines.
  • Global ETD Search Engine provides access to over 4 million PDF studies.
  • Theses.fr is a scientific database of theses and diaries for students and researchers.
  • Springer Link is a website that provides access to paid researches and books for free.
  • OhioLINK provides access to more than 65,000 master’s and Ph.D. theses that can be read and downloaded.
  • Lib Guides Community is a website that offers research and exploration service over 318,968 research guides supervised by over 53,731 librarians in 3,856 libraries worldwide.
  • DOAJ allows you to download more than 9,000 respectable court scientific journals for free.
  • BASE is one of the world’s most massive search engines especially for open electronic scientific sources.
  • Eric is an online digital library of education research and information, providing easy access to educational resources to support their use in improving learning and teaching practices, educational decision-making, and research.
  • Infotopia is a research engine for students that provides information and an archive of art sites and topics, history, social sciences, issues, and community problems.
  • Google Scholar is a scientific researcher from Google that offers an easy way to research on a large scale in scientific material. It allows users to search through many disciplines and sources like articles, university letters, books, summaries, and court opinions, from academic publishers, professional associations, and other sites.
  • Refseek is a search engine dedicated to students and researchers that categorizes more than a billion subjects, including web pages, books, encyclopedia, magazines, and newspapers.
  • The Virtual LRC is an indexing system of thousands of the best academic information sites, selected by teachers and libraries around the world, to provide students and teachers with the proper information for academic projects for schools and universities.

SweetSearch is a website that helps students quickly collect information, identifying the most relevant findings from a credible resource list and facilitates them to find initial sources away from unwanted sites and marginal sites that lack academic rigor.

"internet archive scholar", "14 websites to download research paper for free – 2023", "a researcher’s complete guide to open access papers", "eight ways (and more) to find and access research papers", "what is the best way to find research papers".

  • Title of Reddit thread: “What is the best way to find research papers?”
  • Posted 7 years ago under subreddit “scientificresearch”
  • User asks for help in finding free or cheaper scientific research papers
  • Reddit user suggests using Google Scholar as a way of finding free, full-text research articles
  • They provide instructions on how to find full-text articles on Google Scholar using the “All 5 versions” link and how to use regular Google search to find non-academic sites that carry an article
  • Other Reddit users provide additional free databases such as PubMed Central, BioMed Central, Science Direct, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Directory of Open Access Repositories (Open DOAR), HighWire, OCLC World Catalog, Social Science Research Network, Microsoft Academic Search, Mendeley, and Science.gov
  • Under each database listed, the user provides a brief description of what each one offers and what fields of study they cover
  • Some Reddit users suggest finding an email address for the author and asking for the article directly or using a friend’s login to access restricted content
  • One user suggests enrolling in a local community college to get access to some databases or connecting to their Wi-Fi for access
  • Another user suggests using “Mendeley” to manage research and find free full-text articles

"The 8 <b>Best Open Access Journal Sites</b> for Students "

"21 legit research databases for free journal articles in 2022", "i made a list of academic research websites, i hope you find some helpful.", "ethical challenges in accessing participants at a research site", "federal privacy protections: ethical ... - ama journal of ethics", "is downloading pirated games illegal", "what is a pirated game what are the differences between it and the actual game", "accessing elsevier papers".

  • Paywalls and accessing research papers can be a frustrating experience for students and researchers.
  • Elsevier is a journal publisher that makes contributions and access to science expensive, especially for those who are financially-pressed, leading to difficulty accessing many relevant papers in the field.
  • Various methods are discussed for overcoming this hurdle, ranging from emailing researchers directly to requesting inter-library loans.
  • One Redditor comments that researchers are generally eager to share their papers for free.
  • Other suggestions include reaching out to a researcher via social media, or asking for help on Twitter or Reddit via the “icanhazpdf” hashtag or /r/scholar subreddit.
  • Some users recommend using platforms like Sci-Hub or Library Genesis, which offer access to a vast repository of research papers.
  • However, these platforms often face legal issues.
  • Other comments suggest checking authors’ personal websites for archived versions of papers or even emailing the authors to ask for a copy of the paper.
  • Some users also recommend finding connections at other universities who may have access to the desired journal.
  • Another option is to search for pre-prints or draft copies of the papers on platforms such as Arxiv or BioArxiv.
  • One Redditor commented that librarians are often very helpful in finding hard-to-acquire papers via inter-library loans.
  • It is noted that there are some ethical considerations when deciding to use pirated versions of research papers.
  • A discussion is also present regarding the legal issues surrounding paywalls, with some noting that accessing publicly funded research being published behind paywalls should not be considered piracy.
  • Some individuals have organized to establish their own alternative publishing methods, as highlighted in the resignation and formation of a new journal by the editorial board of Journal of Combinatorial Theory Ser. A.
  • Some specific websites recommended for accessing research papers include Sci-Hub (now blocked in many countries), Library Genesis, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, Arxiv and BioArxiv, among others.
  • Others cautioned that some of these sites are not reliable and may carry risks such as malware.
  • Overall, there are a variety of options available for accessing research papers that require subscriptions.

"Publication ethics: Role and responsibility of authors"

"pirate research-paper sites play hide-and-seek with publishers", "ethical challenges in online research: public/private perceptions", "is it unethical or illegal to cite papers obtained through sci-hub or libgen".

  • The webpage is a thread on Reddit titled “Is it unethical or illegal to cite papers obtained through Sci-hub or Libgen?” and was posted 4 years ago on the subreddit r/AskAcademia.
  • The thread has 7 points and contains 12 comments as of the time it was posted.
  • Some commenters in the thread argued that it is unethical and potentially illegal to use research papers obtained through websites like Sci-hub and Libgen because it violates copyright law.
  • Others argued that the high cost of accessing research and the fact that many authors are happy to share copies of their work justifies the use of these websites.
  • One user who identified themselves as a librarian stated that while the high cost of academic publishing is unethical, users should do their best to obtain free versions of research papers before obtaining them through sites like Sci-hub and Libgen.
  • This user also suggested using tools like Open Access Button to find freely available copies of research before resorting to these websites.
  • Another commenter stated that they would be flattered if someone obtained their work illegally because it meant that their research was valuable.
  • Several commenters suggested that pirating research through websites like Sci-hub and Libgen was necessary for individuals living in countries without access to academic resources.
  • Some users argued that the academic publishing industry itself is unethical and unfair to the public because it puts taxpayer-funded research behind paywalls and sells it back to the public.
  • One user joked that it was unethical to cite books they returned to the library on time.
  • Overall, the thread highlights the controversial nature of using sites like Sci-hub and Libgen to obtain research papers and the varied opinions on the ethical implications of doing so in the academic community.

"ELI5: How a company can 'catch' you for pirating"

"besides sci-hub, does anyone know where else i can get a pirated article".

  • One Reddit user suggests /r/Scholar and has used it successfully once after Sci-Hub did not have the paper. (Karma: 24)
  • Another user suggests using Nexus and their Telegram bots for articles, especially those from Elsevier. (Karma: 1)
  • A third user recommends checking with the librarian at one’s college, contacting authors, posting on Twitter with the hashtag #ICanHazPDF, and using LibGen. (Karma: 18)
  • One user has never gotten a response from an author before. (Karma: 2)
  • Another suggests checking out Filepursuit and posting the DOI or link on Reddit. (Karma: 3)
  • A user recommends using the Unpaywall browser extension to see if the paper is available for free on other sites. (Karma: 2)
  • Arxiv.org is recommended as a source of free pre-reviewed articles by another user. (Karma: 2)
  • Wosonhj.com is suggested for those who cannot find articles on Sci-Hub. (Karma: 1)
  • LibGen is mentioned multiple times as a resource for books and papers. (Karma: 1, 1)
  • ResearchGate and CiteSeer are also suggested for requesting papers from authors. (Karma: 1, 1)
  • Someone asks for help accessing a specific research paper. (Karma: 1)
  • One user reiterates that paying for a scientific article is unnecessary. (Karma: 2)
  • Another user confirms that the response rate on ResearchGate is good. (Karma: 1)

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Finding Relevant Papers Fast with AI-Powered Academic Search Engines

where to find research papers reddit

In this blog post, I will discuss how AI-powered academic search engines can help you find relevant papers fast . Academic research can be a daunting task, especially when you are trying to find relevant papers to support your work. Traditional academic search engines can be slow and inefficient, and they often return irrelevant results.

In a previous post, I have shared a comprehensive post on Useful Academic Search Engine for Research where I have discussed traditional academic search engine.

You have to sift through hundreds or thousands of academic papers (using keywords, filters, and citation s) to find the most relevant scholarly article. And even then, you might miss some relevant papers that could make a difference in your research.

But what if there was a better way to find the right papers for your research in minutes? What if you could use the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to help you discover and explore the most relevant papers for your research topic?

That’s where AI-powered academic search engines come in.

In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the benefits of using AI-powered academic search engines, and I will recommend a few of the best options available.

Benefits of AI-Powered Academic Search Engines

There are several benefits to using AI-based academic search engines:

# Search across millions of academic papers from different domains and disciplines #Find relevant papers without perfect keyword match #Discover related works based on citation s, references, or semantic similarity #Analyze research trends and impact #Get personalized recommendations and alerts based on your interests and preferences #Summarize key takeaways from the academic papers specific to your question #Extract key information from the research papers such as authors, affiliations, abstract s, figures, tables, etc.

Best AI-Powered Academic Search Engines for Finding Relevant Papers

There are several AI-powered academic search engines available, but some of the best include:

#1 Semantic Scholar

A free, AI-powered research tool for scientific literature that lets you search millions of scholarly articles for academic content relevant to your research topic.

It also offers an augmented reader that can provide more context and insights from the papers.

An AI research assistant that uses language models to help you automate research workflow s, such as literature review , summarization, and text classification.

Elicit can find relevant papers without perfect keyword match, summarize takeaways from the paper specific to your question, and extract key information from the papers.

It is an application that helps you in finding the most relevant information from academic journal articles by utilizing Large Language Models (LLM, specifically GPT-3).

In my prior blog post , I gave a comprehensive description of Elicit.

#3 Scinapse

An AI-powered research intelligence engine that helps you access over 200 million academic papers from various sources, such as PubMed, IEEE, Springer, and Elsevier.

Scinapse can help you find relevant papers, filter them by various criteria, and provide smart suggestions based on your queries.

Iris.ai is an intelligent research assistant that employs Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques to assist researchers in exploring and validating scientific papers.

Its AI algorithm s analyze research articles and identify key concepts, methodologies, and connections between papers. Through an interactive interface, researchers can input their research questions or provide a summary of their study.

And Iris.ai uses its AI capabilities to suggest relevant papers. This AI-powered approach helps researchers quickly navigate through the vast sea of scientific literature and identify the most suitable papers for their research projects.

#5 Dimensions

Comprehensive Research Intelligence Dimensions is an AI-driven research platform that integrates scholarly literature, citation s, grants, clinical trials, and patents data into a unified database.

With its advanced AI algorithm s, Dimensions offers a comprehensive research intelligence solution. Researchers can easily search for relevant papers, identify influential works through citation analysis, and gain insights into funding opportunities and collaborations.

The AI-powered features of Dimensions enable researchers to make informed decisions and save time in their quest for the right papers.

#6 Concensus

If you are looking for evidence-based answers from scientific research, you might want to try Consensus, a new AI-powered search engine that can help you find and access relevant papers in seconds.

Consensus uses AI to analyze peer-reviewed, published sources and extract key findings that answer your research question. You can also explore related works, get personalized recommendations, and share your results with others.

Consensus is a free and ad-free tool that aims to democratize expert knowledge and make research easier and faster.

Here are some of the benefits of using Consensus:

  • It can understand natural language queries, so you can search for what you want without having to know the exact keywords.
  • It can provide more relevant results than traditional search engines.
  • It can help you find papers that are new or that have been recently updated.
  • It can help you find papers that are related to your research, even if they are not published in the same journal or conference.

If you’re looking for a way to speed up your academic research, then Consensus is a great option.

AI-powered academic search engines are a great way to speed up your academic research. By using one of these engines, you can find the right papers for your research in minutes.

AI-powered academic search engines have emerged as indispensable tools for researchers in their quest to find relevant papers efficiently.

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IMAGES

  1. A Guide on How to Find Sources For a Research Paper

    where to find research papers reddit

  2. Top 3 tools to find research papers || Where to find research articles

    where to find research papers reddit

  3. How to Find Sources for a Research Paper

    where to find research papers reddit

  4. HOW TO READ RESEARCH PAPERS REDDIT

    where to find research papers reddit

  5. Learn How To Find Sources For A Research Paper

    where to find research papers reddit

  6. 8 Best Websites for Accessing Research Papers for Students

    where to find research papers reddit

VIDEO

  1. How to find research papers for ur literature review using IA #academicwriting #researchtips #thesis

  2. || How to find Research Papers & Identify Research Gap || AI tools || Research Beginners Guide ||

  3. How many authors?

  4. How to find research topics

  5. How To Find Research Papers with ChatGPT SchloarAI Plugin Guide (2024)

  6. How to find research papers in the easiest way

COMMENTS

  1. What is the best way to find research papers?

    Those are generally the free, full-text versions you want. If Google Scholar doesn't have full-text of the article you want, you might still be able to find it elsewhere. Copy a key part of the article's title onto your clipboard and go over to regular Google. Type in filetype:pdf then paste your title snippet.

  2. 5 Best Places to Read Research Papers

    Reddit is always a good place to find a community in topics that you're interesting in. Machine learning and sharing interesting papers has a place there as well. While I'm on the data science subreddit a lot, the machine learning one is great for research, projects, and discussions.

  3. How to find Research Papers: A Cheat Sheet for Graduate Students

    ResearchRabbit, Inciteful, Litmaps, and Connected Papers are literature-mapping tools you can use to dig deeper into a topic. It lets you see which papers are the most groundbreaking in a given field based on their citation networks. This might not be very helpful if you're doing research in a relatively new area.

  4. Where can I find research papers to read? (not currently in academia)

    This is going to depend a lot on your discipline. Some disciplines are very good at keeping papers and preprints publically available. For example, most math and physics papers get papers put up on the arXiv but this is rarer in other fields. Some other fields put papers up on SSRN, but some fields don't up up almost any preprints.

  5. Studying Reddit: A Systematic Overview of Disciplines, Approaches

    This article offers a systematic analysis of 727 manuscripts that used Reddit as a data source, published between 2010 and 2020. Our analysis reveals the increasing growth in use of Reddit as a data source, the range of disciplines this research is occurring in, how researchers are getting access to Reddit data, the characteristics of the datasets researchers are using, the subreddits and ...

  6. Is it ethical/legal to obtain journal articles from reddit?

    -1 for "I find it hard to believe that your research is progressing so fast that a couple of day delay receiving a paper is going to be catastrophic." Coming from someone who has ever done research in his life, this is unusual. If I write a paper, a grant application, or even make a poster for a conference, I need my literature fast.

  7. How and Where to Find Research Papers for Literature Reviews

    To master how to find research papers, start with academic databases and search engines. Platforms such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Scopus are indispensable for accessing a diverse array of scholarly articles. Enhance your search effectiveness by using advanced search options, employing specific keywords, and exploring related terms.

  8. How to find an academic research paper

    Try searching by the author's name, if you know it, or title of the paper. Look at the endnotes in papers you like for other papers. And look at the papers that cited the paper you like; they'll probably be useful for your project. Paywalls. If you locate a study and it's behind a paywall, try these steps:

  9. How to find relevant papers: thinking like a researcher

    In addition to identifying relevant papers, you should also try to find rele-vant scholars, research groups, confer-ences, and journals. Begin with a search on Google Scholar using a set of seed keywords, then refine the keywords based on re-turned results. You should identify the top cited papers. Try using a forward citation search to find ...

  10. Studying Reddit: A Systematic Overview of Disciplines, Approaches

    Abstract. This article offers a systematic analysis of 727 manuscripts that used Reddit as a data source, published between 2010 and 2020. Our analysis reveals the increasing growth in use of Reddit as a data source, the range of disciplines this research is occurring in, how researchers are getting access to Reddit data, the characteristics of ...

  11. Disguising Reddit sources and the efficacy of ethical research

    Most Reddit research (86.1%) makes no mention of "IRB" or "ethics review." Of those that do, the majority (77.2%) ... Otherwise, searching for 150 + sources in the 22 research papers reveals that the metaphor of finding a needle in a haystack (of returned search results) is apt. Reports that focus on a single subreddit (as stated or ...

  12. Studying Reddit: A Systematic Overview of Disciplines, Approaches

    Abstract. This article offers a systematic analysis of 727 manuscripts that used Reddit as a data source, published between 2010 and. 2020. Our analysis reveals the increasing growth in use of ...

  13. How To Find, Read, And Master Research Papers

    Step 1: How To Find Research Papers. This section contains recommendations from Andrew NG and Sebastian Ruder. There are several sources that you can find papers related to your field, and keep ...

  14. 'Scraping' Reddit posts for academic research? Addressing some blurred

    This paper presents an overview and explanation of Reddit, followed by an exploration of studies that use Reddit-acquired data. Arising ethical issues are discussed, and solutions to salient dilemmas presented. This is to enhance awareness of potential problems and improve protections for those whose data is unknowingly used for research ...

  15. websites for pirated research papers • Chord

    During my research, I found various Reddit discussions that addressed the issue of accessing pirated research papers and alternative methods to find them. There was a general consensus among Reddit users that websites like Sci-Hub, ResearchGate, and arXiv.org provide access to research papers for free, although some users cautioned against using Sci-Hub due to ethical and legal concerns <1.1.1 ...

  16. Finding Relevant Papers Fast with AI-Powered Academic ...

    An AI-powered research intelligence engine that helps you access over 200 million academic papers from various sources, such as PubMed, IEEE, Springer, and Elsevier. Scinapse can help you find relevant papers, filter them by various criteria, and provide smart suggestions based on your queries.