Becoming a Savvy Searcher

Tips for Using Boolean Search Methods

Boolean Operators

Developed by George Boole in the mid-19th century

Defines relationships between terms

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Main Elements

AND

OR

NOT

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AND

The simplest function to apply

Each result contains all of the terms searched

Example: shark attacks AND surfing will bring up results that contain both shark attacks and surfing

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OR

Provides for more possibilities and broadens search

Results contain at least one of the search terms

Example: honey badgers OR wolverines

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NOT

A command of exclusion

Results do not contain specified terms

Telling the database to ignore implications

Example: York NOT York Peppermint Patties

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Other Elements

“”

()

~

@

Wild Cards

*

?

^

$

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Seek

Bibliography

http://www.ere.net/2009/10/06/a-recruiters-guide-to-boolean-searching-and-the-worlds-largest-free-cv-database/

http://libguides.mit.edu/c.php?g=175963&p=1158594

http://support.ebsco.com/knowledge_base/detail.php?id=3883

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boolean_algebra

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Boole