How do you keep track of your search strategies and results when using Boolean operators?

1 AND operator

The AND operator connects two or more keywords and returns only the results that contain all of them. For example, if you are looking for articles on climate change and biodiversity, you can type climate change AND biodiversity in the search box. This will exclude any articles that do not mention both terms. The AND operator is useful when you want to be more specific and reduce the number of irrelevant results.

2 OR operator

The OR operator connects two or more keywords and returns the results that contain any of them. For example, if you are looking for articles on climate change or global warming, you can type climate change OR global warming in the search box. This will include any articles that mention either term, or both. The OR operator is useful when you want to be more inclusive and expand the number of relevant results.

3 NOT operator

The NOT operator excludes a keyword from your search and returns only the results that do not contain it. For example, if you are looking for articles on climate change but not on polar bears, you can type climate change NOT polar bears in the search box. This will exclude any articles that mention polar bears. The NOT operator is useful when you want to eliminate a specific topic or aspect from your search.

4 Keeping track

Using Boolean operators can help you create complex and precise search strategies, but it can be difficult to remember what you have searched and what you have found. To keep track of your search strategies and results, you can write down your keywords and Boolean operators in a logical order with parentheses for grouping. Additionally, use the advanced search features of the database to enter keywords and Boolean operators in separate fields, then adjust the filters and limits as needed. You can also save or export your search results to a citation manager, a spreadsheet, or a document and label them with the date and search terms. Lastly, review your search results to evaluate their relevance, quality, and coverage; modify your search terms or Boolean operators if needed.

5 Further resources

If you want to learn more about Boolean operators and how to use them effectively, there are several resources available. The University of British Columbia Library offers a video tutorial that explains the basics of Boolean operators with examples. The University of Illinois Library provides a guide with more details and tips on Boolean operators and other search techniques. Lastly, the University of Auckland Library has a quiz that tests your knowledge and skills on Boolean operators and database searching.