Researching

Search Techniques

 

Truncation is one of the methods of improving your search technique. In this workshop we will be investigating Boolean logic and brackets.

Boolean Logic and Brackets

Boolean operators (OR, AND, NOT) are used between search terms to combine concepts in a more precise way than is possible with just keyword searching.

OR

The OR operator broadens a search, retrieving all records containing at least one of the search concepts entered. It is used to link synonyms or similar or related concepts.

EXAMPLE: profession OR ethics

AND

The AND operator narrows a search, retrieving only those references containing both terms. The AND connector is used to narrow a search to the specific topic being researched.

EXAMPLE: profession AND ethics

NOT

The NOT operator (AND NOT in some databases) also narrows a search by removing all references that contain a particular word or phrase.

EXAMPLE: profession NOT ethics

Be especially careful when using the operator NOT! For example, with this search you would eliminate a potentially useful article entitled "The essence of of a profession is its ethics."

Using Brackets

Databases perform the AND operation before the OR operation, which can change the meaning of your search statement. In order to force the database to focus on the OR operation first you need to enclose your synonyms in brackets. Expressions in brackets are processed first.

Example: ethics AND (standard OR code)

The statement in brackets - 'standard OR code' - is processed first.

If brackets were omitted:

standard OR code AND ethics

The AND operation - 'ethics AND standard' - is processed first.

Activity

Constructing a Boolean search statement

AND


When you want to search for records that contain both the words wind wind and energy type
wind and energy
If instead of energy you wanted to try power what search statement would you type in to find records that contain both the words wind and the word power?

Type your answer in the box below:

Compare your ideas with ours

By connecting the keywords with a Boolean connector, you can construct a very simple search statement as shown above.

OR

To find records which contain either the word energy or the word power (or both; in other words, at least one of those two synonyms), type the search statement.

energy or power

Similarly, if you wanted to see records containing at least one of the worlds sun or solar, what would be the search statement to use?

Type your answer in the box below:

Compare your ideas with ours

Combining the use of the AND & the OR connectors

Now we'll combine the search statements.

Searching for books on wind energy, we definitely want the word wind to be there, and either the word energy or the word power - possibly both - to be there as well. So we type:

wind and (energy or power)

Remember: it is important to place the words connected by the OR connector within brackets, as above, when using them in conjunction with another Boolean connector.

Applying this method to solar energy next, (instead of wind energy) we would type:

(sun or solar) and (energy or power)

Next, you are looking for resources on the economic aspects of obtaining energy from the oceans

Type your answer in the box below:

Compare your ideas with ours

Using the truncation symbol

A truncation sign is also referred to as a wildcard.

In the example above the truncation sign or wildcard " * " is used to find not just ocean, but also oceans, oceanic, etc
-not just economic, but also economics, economical, etc.

In general, the use of the truncation sign implies that we are looking for all the words that have a particular word stem - however different the word endings might be.

The symbol “*” used here in the CDU catalogue is the most common truncation sign used by computerised information systems, though – in other cases it might be, for example, $ or ! or ?

 

Reflection

Selecting

Even while we focus on search tools and techniques, we shouldn’t forget the real aim of researching. Faultless Boolean search statements, or a number of relevant records of articles found by them, mean nothing in them selves. The real aim of researching a topic is to find, or at least get closer to, the truth of the matter. That means selecting articles that are the most relevant to your topic. To do this you should evaluate the details provided about the publication. Sometimes you will only have access to the citation details and possibly an abstract. This should be enough information to determine whether the articles are relevant or appropriate to your topic. If your search does not uncover any suitable articles, you will have to review your search in order to improve your results.

 

Activity

Again referring to our hypothetical research topic: “One of the hallmarks of a profession is its willingness to establish ethical standards to guide practitioners’ conduct. Discuss why ethical standards are so important to professions and professional life.”

Attempt to construct a search statement using Boolean logic to retrieve articles relating to professional ethics. Remember to use synonyms (words with a similar meaning) in brackets.

Academic Search Premier Search Screen

Compare it with our example

As you can see professional ethics is a big issue and it is important to specify the actual profession you are interested in. Now lets suppose your chosen profession is librarianship. By adding the truncated keyword librarian* to your search you can make your search more specific.

Academic Search Premier Search Screen

Compare it to our recommendation

Now try the search using your own profession as the additional keyword to make your search more relevant.

Academic Search Premier Search Screen