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Library Guides
Search Tips for Searching Library Databases
Boolean Operators (Connectors) |
AND
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- Finds sources containing two or more ideas.
- The database will only retrieve items containing both words.
- AND narrows your search.
- You can use AND many times in one search.
- Example: adolescents AND communication
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OR
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- Use OR when searching for synonyms.
- OR broadens your search to include synonyms and related words.
- OR tells the database that the words can be used interchangeably, so it will retrieve items containing either word.
- You can use OR many times in one search.
- Example: adolescents OR teenagers
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AND and OR
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Make a complex search using both AND and OR by using parentheses around OR synonyms.
- Example: (adolescen* OR teen* OR youth) AND communicat*
- Example: girl* AND advertising AND esteem
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Truncation |
*
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- Common symbol used to replace any number of letters at the ends of words.
- Helps find singulars, plurals, and variant endings of words.
- Differs from database to database. Check the online help to identify the truncation symbol used.
- Example: teen* finds teen, teens, teenagers
- Databases that use * include the UW Libraries Catalog, EBSCO databases, and ProQuest databases.
- Lexis Nexis uses !
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Limits |
limits vary
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Most databases let you limit search results. Some limits include language, date of publication, publication type, etc.
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Phrases |
""
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- Enclose phrases in quotation marks when searching the Web or most databases.
- Phrase searching in databases varies. Check the online help for additional information.
- Example: "social networks"
- Example: "mass media"
- Example: "interpersonal communication"
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