![]() For example, searching in a database for the terms (Ducks NOT Geese) will populate information that contains the search term Ducks but will omit those that contain the search term geese. This is helpful when trying to limit the populated data or to make sure the database doesn't confuse your term with another similar term. ![]() Most of the time, using the operator "NOT" will help reduce the number of records and data pulled from a database. "NOT" is an operator designed to exclude a search term in order to help refine the data pulled from a database. To get to the Academic Search Completedatabase click on the link at the bottom of this section or review the Getting Started section located in the navigation bar on the left of the screen.įinally, our last Boolean Operator that we will be covering is "NOT". Compare these results with the results of "AND" and "NOT". For example, searching in a database for the terms (Ducks OR Geese) will populate information/articles that contain either ducks, or geese, or both.īelow is an example of the number of search results populated by entering "ducks OR geese" into the search field in the database Academic Search Completepowered by EBSCOhost. Look to the ven-diagram at the top of the page to see how using "OR" will populate data. The truth to "OR" as an operator is that databases will populate data that contains either search term or both. ![]() Most individuals believe when we use "OR" that we want one search term or the other but not necessarily both. In the same manner that the Boolean Operator "AND" may be confusing to beginners, "OR" has a similar misconception. "OR" is often used when you want as much information as possible from the two inputted search terms regardless of other words those inputted search terms might be connected too. To get to the Academic Search Completedatabase click on the link at the bottom of this section or review the Getting Started section located in the navigation bar on the left of the screen.Īnother also very common Boolean Operator is "OR". Compare these results with the results of "OR" and "NOT" in the sections below. For example, searching in a database for the terms (Ducks AND Geese) will populate information/articles that ONLY contain BOTH Ducks AND Geese.īelow is an example of the number of search results populated by entering "ducks AND geese" into the search field in the database Academic Search Completepowered by EBSCOhost. Using the "AND" Boolean operator will tell the database to search for any information that contains ALL of the search criteria. This is a wrong assumption to make, in reality, using the Boolean operator "AND" will actually populate less data but the data populated will be more refined. If you are a Google user you might want to consult this GoogleGuide on Search Operators to help you conduct better Google searches.When a researcher such as yourself includes the Boolean operator "AND" into a database search field box, you may assume that because of the definition of the word "and" meaning adding together, you may get back more populated results. Within Operator (W/x) - finds words within x number of words from each other, and in the order they are entered Near operator (N/x) - finds words within x number of words from each other and usually it is regardless of the order in which they appear. The symbols generaly used include: n or w or adj.Īdjacent (ADJ) - terms in the search box must appear in the record next to (adjacent to) each other in the same order as you enter them. Not all databases provide this option but if they do it can include: This is helpful when you don't want the preciseness of a phrase search but you also don't want the expansiveness of an AND search. ![]() This means you can locate one word within a certain distance of another. Some databases will allow the use of proximity or positional operators.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |