Search Connectors in Databases
- Search connectors are three common words -- AND,
OR, and NOT -- used to connect keywords and phrases in databases like EBSCO, InfoTrac, and ProQuest, and in the library catalog.
- Boolean operators is another name for using AND, OR, and NOT as connectors.
| 1. |
OR |
Expands or broadens a search and is used
to include similar concepts, e.g.,
|
| 2. |
AND |
Narrows or focuses a search, and is used
to two search for two different concepts , e.g.,
|
| 3. |
NOT |
Eliminates or excludes an unwanted term,
e.g.,
|
Truncation:
- Use a truncation symbol (usually an asterisk * ) to find variant endings
of a root word
- example: adolescen* will retrieve adolescents
and adolescence.
Parentheses:
- If AND and OR are used in the same search, the terms connected
by OR must be in parentheses:
- example: (self-esteem OR self-concept) AND (eating disorders OR bulimia)
- Here is how your search would look using the Basic Search in EBSCO:
Putting it all together:
- When you need to find articles or books, divide
the topic into its component parts.
- For instance, if you need articles
that examines the self-esteem of adolescents with eating disorders, you have three separate main concepts.
- After identifying
the main concepts, determine if there are related terms for
each of the ideas. The search strategy for such a topic might look like
this:
(self-esteem OR self-concept) AND (bulimia OR eating disorders OR
anorexia) AND adolescen*
- Here is how your search would look using the Advanced Search in EBSCO:
More detailed information about "Computer Searching"
using Search Connectors (Boolean searching) is available in our online tutorial
Finding It! A Research Skills Tutorial.
