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How to Research

This guide will assist anyone with a research task

                                                                   

 Boolean Operators

Boolean Operators is a term for words and symbols that are used to connect keywords when searching for information. These words and symbols can either broaden or narrow your search, which means you retrieve results that are relevant and effective - saving you precious time.

Boolean Operators

BOOLEAN OPERATOR
 		 HOW IT AFFECTS
YOUR SEARCH RESULTS
 		 EXAMPLES USING THE KEYWORDS 'CHOCOLATE' AND 'DESSERT'
 
AND Retrieved results include all keywords used Chocolate AND Dessert

= will retrieve all results that include both chocolate and dessert
 
OR Retrieved results only include either one keyword, but not both Chocolate OR Dessert

= will retrieve all results that include chocolate or dessert, but won't include results where chocolate and dessert appear together
 
NOT Retrieved results include the first word, but not the second word Chocolate NOT dessert

= will retrieve all results that include chocolate, but will not include any results that include dessert
 

(     )

parenthesis

 Keywords included inside the brackets are grouped together in a single search, allowing you to control the order the words are searched in. This is especially useful when you are using more than one Boolean operator during the same search.

(Chocolate dessert)

= will retrieve all results that include the words chocolate dessert as a single phrase, in that order

 

Another example is:
(Chocolate NOT Dessert) AND Dairy

= will retrieve all results that include chocolate and dairy, but not chocolate dessert
 
"    "
quotation marks		 Keywords that are included inside quotation masks retrieve results as an exact match

"chocolate dessert"


= will retrieve all results that include the words chocolate dessert together

 

TRUNCATION & WILDCARD OPERATORS

HOW IT AFFECTS
YOUR SEARCH RESULTS

EXAMPLES
 

 

*
asterisk

 

An asterisk (*) is known as a truncation operator.

When the ending of a keyword is replaced with an asterisk, retrieved results include all possible endings for that word.


Choc*

= will retrieve all words that start with 'Choc'

eg: results will include: chocolate, chocolates, chocoholic, chocolatier, chocolatey

 

Wildcards:

?
question mark

 

#
hash tag

 

When a letter in a keyword is substituted with a wildcard operator, retrieved results include spelling variants for that word.

Notes:
- different databases use different keywords. For more information or additional assistance, contact the Library Team.

- other wildcards may include the use of exclamation marks (!), or dollar signs ($)

 

organi?ation

= will retrieve results for the word organisation & organization


wom#n

= will retrieve results for the word woman, women & womyn