ENG152 - Keywords, Searching & Databases

Boolean operators form the basis of mathematical sets and database logic.

• They connect your search words together to either narrow or broaden your set of results.
• The three basic boolean operators are AND, OR, and NOT.

Why use Boolean operators?

• To focus a search, mainly when your topic contains multiple search terms.
• Connect various pieces of information to find exactly what you're looking for.

Try these database search strategies to find relevant information efficiently.

Boolean Operators: AND, OR, NOT

• AND: for combining unrelated search terms (standardized tests AND anxiety)
• OR: for searching similar words (standardized tests OR SAT)
• NOT: for eliminating results (standardized tests NOT college students)

Phrase Searching

• Use quotation marks to search words as a complete phrase, like “standardized tests”

Keywords

• Don't search with a question like you might when you use Google. Remember to use specific keywords in the databases. Use the Subject Terms tool in a database like Academic Search Complete to help you identify those specific keywords.
• Use 2-3 keywords at a time

Limiters

• Full Text
• Peer reviewed
• Date Range
• Format types (academic journal, newspaper, magazine, opinion, etc.)

Search Multiple Databases at Once

• Search all EBSCO databases at once: go to EBSCO Databases and click the Select All checkbox.
• Search all Gale databases at once: go to Gale Power Search.