How to construct a search strategy using Boolean Logic. Some search tips

1. How to construct a search
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2. SEARCHING DATABASES
Mendel’s influence on the discipline of genetics
CONCEPT 1
1. Write down your topic in its
simplest form
Then break it up into CONCEPTS.
CONCEPT 2

3. Mendel’s influence on the discipline of genetics
CONCEPT 2
CONCEPT 1
2. Think of other similar SEARCH TERMS
that describe each of your concepts :
CONCEPT 1
Gregor Mendel
CONCEPT 2
genes

4. 3. Construct your search strategy
 Boolean logic provides the language you use to
structure your keyword search … the search
engine needs to know how your search terms
relate to each other
 In Boolean searching, you make use of
the three Boolean operators:
AND OR NOT

5. Use AND to combine different concepts :
Genetics AND Mendel
• The results of your search will contain both words i.e. Mendel and genetics.
• AND narrows your search results, as it retrieves only those articles that have both search
terms
• The green shaded area in the illustration represents the result of your search.
AND =

6. Use OR to enter keywords for the same
(single) concept :
genetics OR gene
• The results of your search will contain either genetics or genes.
• OR broadens your search results, as it retrieves any one of your search terms.
• The yellow shaded area in the illustration represents the result of your search.
OR
=

7. Use NOT to get rid of unwanted results :
genes NOT genomes
• The results of your search will NOT contain the word ‘genomes’
• The blue shaded area in the illustration represents the result of your search.
=NOT

8. Mendel
OR
“Gregor Mendel”
Genetics
OR
genes
AND
CONCEPT 1
Mendel
Gregor Mendel
CONCEPT 2
Genetics
Genes
Mendel’s influence on the discipline of genetics
Search tip:
Use “…..” when you want to search for words that
must be found next to each other

9. ONE SEARCH BOX: Use brackets to separate your concepts
STRUCTURED SCREEN:
Mendel OR “Gregor Mendel”
Genetics OR genes
(Mendel OR “Gregor Mendel”) AND (genetics
OR genes)
4. Type your search strategy into the
database search screen

10. Need more help?
Email: Jen.Eidelman@uct.ac.za