Advanced Search Tools: Truncation, Boolean & More
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The document outlines advanced search techniques for databases, including the use of truncation and wildcard symbols to improve search efficiency. It explains the application of boolean operators to connect search terms and refine results, such as 'AND', 'OR', and 'NOT'. Additionally, it highlights the importance of searching in specific fields like titles or abstracts to yield more relevant articles.
Advanced Search Tools: Truncation, Boolean & More
- 1. Advanced Search Tools Truncation & Wildcard Symbols Boolean Operators Searching in Specific Fields
- 2. Wildcard & Truncation Symbols • These symbols help you save time and search more efficiently • They are used to search for word variants, words with unknown characters, etc. • Specific symbols and their functions may vary by database (check the Help feature for details)
- 3. Wildcard Symbol ? (question mark) represents a single character • can go in the middle of a word • will find variants of that word Examples: advi?e finds advice, advise col?or finds color, colour
- 4. Truncation Symbol * (asterisk) can represent multiple characters • can go at the end of a root word • will find all endings of that word Example: pollut* finds pollute, pollutes, pollution, polluter, polluted, polluting, pollutant, pollutants
- 5. Using Truncation Symbols Make sure your truncation leads to at least 2 useful words medicin* { industrializ* { industr* { BIO* { medicine medicinal industrialize industrialization industry industrial industrialization biology biopsy biography biometrics… Consider if your truncation will include too many unrelated words
- 6. What are Boolean Operators ? Boolean operators connect and define the relationship between your search terms: AND OR NOT They can help you save time and search more efficiently. Use ADVANCED SEARCH to access these. If typing out, use all uppercase.
- 7. Boolean Operators • means the search results must include all terms listed • narrows your search: you find fewer items, but they're more specific • is generally implied in any search string, but there may be differences in the results • Best practice: Try it both ways, and explore each set of results is similar but not identical to AND
- 8. Boolean Operators Returns results in which all of the words are in close proximity compare Returns results in which the terms may not be in close proximity to each other Best practice: Try it both ways, and explore each set of results AND
- 9. Boolean Operators • finds items containing either term • is good for combining synonyms in a search • broadens your search: you find more items, because they only need to contain one of the terms OR
- 10. Boolean Operators In this example, we use OR to combine two searches: • teen AND crime = 7,741 + • adolescent AND crime = 14,166 …to get more results on the topic!
- 11. Boolean Operators • eliminates hits containing a certain keyword • narrows your search • removes unwanted topics from your results • use these to refine your search after assessing results NOT
- 12. Searching in Specific Fields The default is usually a full-text search Most databases will give you the option to search in different fields. Use ADVANCED SEARCH to access these options.
- 13. Searching in Specific Fields If your keyword is in the Title or Abstract of the article, it is probably a central concept in the article, not just mentioned in passing. So, searching for your keywords in the Title or Abstract field will yield fewer results, but they will be more relevant. Caution: you may miss relevant articles that don’t contain your keyword in these limited fields.
- 14. Searching in specific fields Searching within the Author field will yield articles written by people with that name. Note that this yields articles BY Piaget, not ABOUT him.
- 15. For more Help: • Attend a Library Workshop • View more Knowledge Base Tutorials • Visit the Library • Contact us Library.flemingcollege.ca