Boolean Operators
Boolean operators are a group of small, simple words used
to identify the logical relationships between the concepts in a search statement.
The most common Boolean operators are AND and OR, but you will sometimes find
NOT to be helpful.
When searching, it is helpful to recognize what the
logical relationships between your search terms are. This skill will help
you to devise more effective searches.
AND
Combining terms by the operator AND will more narrowly
focus the search and will retrieve a fewer number of records. Generally,
you use this logical relationship between terms to retrieve results that deal
with all of the concepts in your research question.
For example:
men AND bulimia will retrieve results where
both words are found
OR
Linking terms by the operator OR
will broaden the search and will retrieve a greater number of records.
This strategy is particularly effective when searching for similar or synonymous
terms that represent a single concept in your research question.
For example:
adolescent OR youth will retrieve
results where either or both words are found
AND and OR Together
To use both AND and OR in a search, brackets are needed to
keep the logical relationship between the terms clear. The terms linked by
OR must be in brackets.
For example:
(youth OR adolescent) AND racism
NOT
Using NOT before a term will narrow the search by
eliminating results that contain the term.
For example:
bass NOT fish
Question: You are interested in finding some information about totem
poles on Vancouver Island. What search would be most appropriate?
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updated:
19 April 2006