{"id":153,"date":"2015-09-24T18:19:28","date_gmt":"2015-09-24T18:19:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/informationliteracyxmaster\/?post_type=chapter&p=153"},"modified":"2015-09-24T18:19:28","modified_gmt":"2015-09-24T18:19:28","slug":"use-a-boolean","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-buffstate-informationliteracy\/chapter\/use-a-boolean\/","title":{"raw":"Use a Boolean!","rendered":"Use a Boolean!"},"content":{"raw":"What\u2019s that? The latest dance move from Brazil? No. It just means using AND, OR, or NOT in your searches. Your research will go much faster if you can use a Boolean operator.\r\n\r\nSo, let your fingers do the dancing by using AND, OR, or NOT to improve your search results.\r\n\r\nLet\u2019s see how.\r\n
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Hot Tip!<\/h3>\r\nBoolean operators are names after George Boole, an English mathematician and philosopher.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Boolean Logic<\/h2>\r\n\"Three\r\n
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Hot Tip!<\/h3>\r\nSearch engines, such as Google and Yahoo!, automatically add AND to your search terms.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Combining Boolean Operators<\/h2>\r\nYou can use multiple operators within the same search to get even more effective and powerful results. Simply group your synonyms with OR, then combine them with another key concept using AND.\r\n\r\nIn the example below you can see how this works.\r\n\r\n\"Combining\r\n
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Hot Tip!<\/h3>\r\nWhen combining two or more Boolean operators, it is important to put the key words being combined INSIDE the parentheses\u2014those will be dealt with first. Then, most databases will read the search from left to right, just like Algebra!\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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Quiz<\/h3>\r\n
    \r\n\t
  1. Which search would return fewer results?\r\n
      \r\n\t
    1. recycle AND environment<\/li>\r\n\t
    2. recycle OR environment<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
    3. Which Boolean operator do you use to search for synonyms for a word (e.g., agriculture, farming, crops)?\r\n
        \r\n\t
      1. AND<\/li>\r\n\t
      2. OR<\/li>\r\n\t
      3. NOT<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
      4. Which search will exclude any results with \"recycle\"?\r\n
          \r\n\t
        1. environment NOT recycle<\/li>\r\n\t
        2. recycle NOT environment<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
        3. The default and \"hidden\" Boolean operator in a standard Google search is:\r\n
            \r\n\t
          1. AND<\/li>\r\n\t
          2. OR<\/li>\r\n\t
          3. NOT<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
            \r\n

            Answers<\/h3>\r\n
              \r\n\t
            1. recycle AND environment<\/li>\r\n\t
            2. OR; by using OR grouping synonyms will broaden your search.<\/li>\r\n\t
            3. environment NOT recycle<\/li>\r\n\t
            4. AND; Google automatically uses AND to combine your terms.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

              Try Truncation<\/h2>\r\nAnother technique that can improve your search results is called truncation. Truncating a word means that you are able to search different forms of the same word at the same time.\r\n\r\nTruncation requires the use of symbols, called wildcards, to replace word endings. The most common symbols are: * ? #\r\n
              \r\n

              Hot Tip!<\/h3>\r\nTo see what character a particular database uses for truncation or a wildcard, always refer to the Help option in the database or ask a librarian!\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

              Using Truncation<\/h2>\r\nShorten the word to its root and add the truncation symbol.\r\n

              Vege*<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n