Boolean Operators.pptx

Boolean
Operators

Boolean
Operators:
●
●
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?
●
●
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AND - narrows search
OR - broadens search
NOT - narrows search
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To focus a search, particularly when your
topic contains multiple search terms
To connect various pieces of information to
find exactly what you're looking for.
Database Search Tips: Boolean operators. (2018). Retrieved October 29, 2019, from https://libguides.mit.edu/c.php?g=175963&p=1158594.

Boolean Operators can be used in database searches
as well as internet searches

Boolean
Operators - AND
Use AND in a search to:
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●
Narrow your results
Tell the database that all search
terms must be present in the resulting
records
Example: cloning AND humans AND ethics
In using the boolean operator AND, your
search will contain results that have all
three terms (cloning, humans, ethics)
within the information item(s) that show
up.
Database Search Tips: Boolean operators. (2018). Retrieved October 29, 2019, from https://libguides.mit.edu/c.php?g=175963&p=1158594.

Boolean
Operators - OR
OR is used to broaden results, giving you more information,
as you are not just searching for one thing, you are
simultaneously searching for as many keywords as you
like.
Use OR in a search to:
●
●
Connect two or more similar concepts
(synonyms)
Broaden your results, telling the database
that any of your search terms can be
present in the resulting records
Example: cloning OR genetics OR reproduction
Using OR to search will give you more results than AND,
but because you are using the boolean operator, the results
will still be more targeted than just searching ‘cloning
genetics reproduction’
Database Search Tips: Boolean operators. (2018). Retrieved October 29, 2019, from https://libguides.mit.edu/c.php?g=175963&p=1158594.

Boolean
Operators - NOT
Use NOT in a search to:
●
●
Exclude words from your search
Narrow your search, telling the
database to ignore concepts that
may be implied by your search terms
Example: cloning NOT sheep
This search will give you information about
cloning but nothing will come up that has
to do with sheep.
You can see how this is helpful in this
specific search, because sheep cloning is
a popular topic when researching different
aspects cloning.
Database Search Tips: Boolean operators. (2018). Retrieved October 29, 2019, from https://libguides.mit.edu/c.php?g=175963&p=1158594.

More
Examples...
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●
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Using AND narrows your search
The more keywords you connect with
AND, the fewer results you will retrieve
Remember the database will need to
find each of your keywords in the text in
order to show it to you
(Boolean Operators - AND)
SEARCH: "homeless youth" and “education”
and "new york city"
SEARCH: “prescription drug” and “pricing” and
“legislation”
Wellesley College. (2019, May 21). Library Research Guides: Search Tips: Truncation and Boolean Searching: Home. Retrieved
from https://libguides.wellesley.edu/truncation

Example: You are given an assignment to write a paper about past and current legislation
within the U.S. government having to do with prescription drug prices.
If you were to search ‘prescription drug pricing’, you would get a lot of information from
drug companies and pharmacy coupons.
If you were to search ‘prescription drug legislation’, you may get results that have to do
with laws about being caught dealing prescription drugs: jail time, sentencing,
charts/graphs with demographic data.
You know what you need and you know what you don’t need. Using the AND operator is
key in this situation, so that you can get search results more specific to your topic and
weed out the unrelated information.
SEARCH: “prescription drug” and “pricing” and “legislation”

More
Examples...
(Boolean Operators -
OR)
●
●
Using OR broadens your search
Using OR is helpful when we are
searching for a concept that is
described equally well by more
than one term
SEARCH: “cars” OR “automobiles”
SEARCH: “Water” OR “lake” OR “stream”
Wellesley College. (2019, May 21). Library Research Guides: Search Tips: Truncation and Boolean Searching: Home. Retrieved
from https://libguides.wellesley.edu/truncation

Example: You are given an assignment to create a slideshow about the evolution
of the automobile in America. You need to have text-based information, but also
images.
If you were to search ‘cars’, you would get a lot of images - but typically, it is good
practice not to use the first few images that show up on a search - as these are
the most popular images and we’ve all seen these before. You want to have an
original presentation with excellent and interesting images.
Using the OR operator consists of using synonyms of your topic in searches.
This results in more diverse content, with more choices. Sometimes it is good
practice to go to thesaurus.com and find some synonyms to use for an OR
search.
SEARCH: “cars” OR “automobiles” OR “motor car”

More
Examples...
(Boolean Operators -
NOT)
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Using NOT narrows your search
This type of search is good to use
when you already know what you do
not want
Let's say you are doing a search on
new cars but you are only interested
in American made models:
SEARCH: “cars” OR “automobiles” NOT
“European”
Wellesley College. (2019, May 21). Library Research Guides: Search Tips: Truncation and Boolean Searching: Home. Retrieved
from https://libguides.wellesley.edu/truncation

Example: You are given an assignment to write about the history of nursing
in America, specifically: nurses who are women of color.
If you were to search ‘history of nonwhite nurses’ you would still get a lot of
information about male nurses and the term ‘nonwhite’ still has the word
‘white’ in it, so you will get search results about white male and female
nurses as well.
Using the NOT operator here will narrow your search so that you do not get
any information about male or white nurses.
SEARCH: “nursing professionals” NOT “men” NOT “white” NOT “caucasian”

References
Database Search Tips: Boolean operators. (2019, October 29). Retrieved from
https://libguides.mit.edu/c.php?g=175963&p=1158594.
Wellesley College. (2019, May 21). Library Research Guides: Search Tips: Truncation and Boolean
Searching: Home. Retrieved from https://libguides.wellesley.edu/truncation