Communication: Searching: Database Search Tips (Boolean Searching)

AND

• 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

OR

• 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
  

AND and OR

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
  

*

• 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 !

limits vary

Most databases let you limit search results. Some limits include language, date of publication, publication type, etc.

""

• 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"