Google Docs Research: How does the tool work?

This practical tip shows you how to use the research tool in Google Docs.

Use the research tool in Google Docs

With the research tool in Google Docs, you can directly look up web results, images and even maps that you can incorporate into your document.

1. Select the desired term and open the context menu with the right mouse button.
2. Select "Research on [search term]". Alternatively, press [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Alt] + [I] on the keyboard.
3. A search bar opens on the right-hand side, in which Google provides you with web results, images and maps for your search term. For example, if you search for "Berlin", a small Google map will appear, which you can integrate into your Doc with just one click.
4. If you move the mouse over one of the web links, you can choose between the options "Preview", "Insert link" and "Quote".
5. How to link your search term in the text to a Google search result.
6. "Cite" inserts a footnote as the source including the URL at the end of your document.

Google Docs: Filter image results by usage rights

You can also filter image results in the search ads by usage rights.

1. To do this, open the expanded view using the small arrow below the search term.
2. There you have the choice not to filter the images by license, or only to display photos that you can use for commercial purposes.
3. You can also change the citation format there and choose between MLA, APA and Chicago.

Filter search results in the Google Docs Research Tool

You can filter the results using the research tool, just like in the normal Google web search.

1. Click the little Google icon to the left of the search term.
2. There you can filter for images, historical events, tables, quotations and dictionary entries, for example.
3. If you select "Personal", your own Google Docs will be searched for the term.

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