Knowing even a little about keyword and Boolean searching can really save you time when searching in databases or online catalogs.

Keywords:

For example:  If you are researching distance education in high schools, you will want to identify the keywords that work best in a particular database or catalog – results vary so sometimes you just have to try a few.

“Distance education” issues may also be found under “online education” “cyberschool” “e-learning” or “distance learning” 

“High school” might also be found under “secondary education” or “K-12”

In this case, “distance education” is a more widely used term in most databases, so I used that term when conducting a search.

If you need help knowing what terms work best you might try a few, look in the index or introduction of a subject encyclopedia or use some of the suggested descriptors in the searches you have already tried.  Remember, you can always ask a librarian.

Boolean Searching:

Boolean searching is when you use the terms AND, OR and NOT to link keywords together in a search. Knowing a little about this can help you narrow or broaden your search. 

For example:  If you are researching distance education in high schools you might try  “distance education AND high school” or “distance learning NOT higher education” or “distance education OR cyberschool”.  Some combinations will be more successful than others.  Try a few to get a feel for which ones work best in the database you are using.  A librarian can help you with this too!   

Here is a visual representation to help you think about how results can be broadened and narrowed by using AND, OR and NOT:

OR:

Any of the terms present will be retrieved. Using OR broadens a search.  It is often used to link synonyms or related terms together

Ex: bees OR insects

       increase OR improve

       violence OR abuse

Keyword Search:  Democrat OR Republican – (All areas shaded blue will be retrieved)

Keyword Search: Democrat OR Republican OR Independent 

AND:

All of the terms must be present in order to be retrieved.  Using AND narrows the search 

Ex: adoption AND adolescents

      global warming AND prevention

      immigration AND legislation

Keyword Search:  education AND distance

(All areas shaded blue will be retrieved, all areas shaded gray will not be retrieved.)

Keyword Search: education AND distance AND elementary 

NOT:

Designates which terms will not be retrieved from the search.  Using NOT further limits/narrows a search. 

Ex: mining NOT coal

      disasters NOT natural

      anorexia NOT bulimia

Keyword Search: imports NOT Japan

(Area shaded blue will be retrieved, areas shaded gray will not be retrieved.)