This is the "Database Search Strategies" page of the "SOC 4600 Research Methodology (DeCesare) Spr. 2010" guide.
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SOC 4600 Research Methodology (DeCesare) Spr. 2010 

Course Research Guide for Dr. DeCesare's SOC4600 course
Last update: Feb 4th, 2010 URL: http://libguides.merrimack.edu/SOC4600  Print/Mobile Guide   RSS Updates ShareThis

Database Search Strategies            Print/Mobile Page
  
 

What are Boolean Operators?

Boolean Operators are the words AND, OR, and NOT. You use these terms to connect keywords or search words to help you search online databases more effectively and efficiently.

Use AND to connect two unlike words and narrow your search.

Use OR to connect to like words and broaden your search.

Use NOT to exclude a word from your search results.

 
 

Using Boolean Operators to Search in Databases

Need to search a database? Watch this Boolean clip to learn how to combine search words and get the results you are looking for.

Adapted from the materials created by The University of Auckland Library, NZ. This video is covered by a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-ShareAlike license.

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What is Truncation?

Definition:

To shorten or cut off at the end.

The process of searching for a keyword in a database:

  • in plural or singular form
  • as a root word with multiple endings

Examples:

theat* (use for theater and theatre)

wom*n (use for woman or women)

child* (use for child or children)

By adding an asterisk to the root word you can search for that word with all possible endings.

 
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