FAQ: How do I use the Multi-Search to locate the full-text of a citation generated by ChatGPT, from Google, or referenced in a scholarly work?

Citations generated by ChatGPT and from Google searches should be carefully checked for accuracy if you plan to include them in your work. ChatGPT has been known to fabricate citations and database citation tools do not always format the citation correctly.

Use the Library's Multi-Search or Periodical Finder to both verify that a citation exists and to locate the full-text of the source described by the citation. Use the Library's Guide to Citing Your Sources to correctly format your citations. For details about correctly attributing the work of others, see the SNHU Academic Integrity Policy for online students or for campus students.

Multi-Search (for journal article and book citations)

The Multi-Search on the library home page searches across multiple library databases at the same time. The more databases that are searched, the more likely a search result.

1. Copy-and-paste (rather than type) the full title of the article or eBook from the citation into the Multi-Search box, then Search. Copy-and-pasting minimizes the chance of typos which can easily lead you to "no search results found". 
   In the following example the item's title (an article) "Space Mining & Exploration: Facing a Pivotal Moment" has been copy-and-pasted into the Multi-Search:

   

2. The item should appear on a short list of search results (it may in fact be the only search result). Look for links to the full-text under the item title:

   

3. Click on the title of the item in the page of search results to see more detailed information about that item (see screenshot below). Note the Cite and Permalink (permanent link) icons in the Tools column along the right side of the page. The Cite tool displays the full citation for the item in a variety of citation formats that;can be copy-and-pasted into your list of references. The Permalink lets you easily access the item again at a later time:

   

4. If the search comes back with "no results found", check for typos in the title and try again, or search using a portion of the title (the first four words, for example), or search using the unique keywords (nouns, proper names, jargon) in the title. If you are still not seeing what you want and the citation is to a journal article (not an eBook) use the Periodical Finder to find the issue of the journal containing the article you seek. For eBooks, search the Library databases that include eBooks & eBook Chapters.

Content authored by: CD