Paths of Discovery: Comparing the Search Effectiveness of EBSCO Discovery Service, Summon, Google Scholar, and Conventional Library Resources

Andrew D. Asher is Assessment Librarian in the Indiana University Libraries at Indiana University Bloomington; e-mail: [email protected]. Lynda M. Duke is Academic Outreach Librarian, Associate Professor, and Suzanne Wilson is Library Technology and Resources Director, in The Ames Library at Illinois Wesleyan University; e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]. © 2013 Andrew D. Asher, Lynda M. Duke, and Suzanne Wilson, Attribution-NonCommercial (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) CC BY-NC In 2011, researchers at Bucknell University and Illinois Wesleyan University compared the search efficacy of Serial Solutions Summon, EBSCO Discovery Service, Google Scholar, and conventional library databases. Using a mixed-methods approach, qualitative and quantitative data were gathered on students’ usage of these tools. Regardless of the search system, students exhibited a marked inability to effectively evaluate sources and a heavy reliance on default search settings. This article describes these results and makes recommendations for libraries considering these tools.