We use Boolean Operators (OR, AND) to combine search terms in library databases.
Boolean Operators:
Let's use the below example question to see how Boolean Operators are applied.
REVIEW STEPS |
|
Search sets are combined logically using AND or OR.
Note: You can also use brackets to group concepts and force an order of operations.
This forms the basic skeleton of your search strategy. It's often helpful to express your skeleton strategy as a venn diagram or as a chart (see below).
You might find drawing a venn diagram helpful when constructing your search strategy. Underline your major concept in each circle, list all your synonyms below each each concept and then identify the overlap where you will find the most relevant literature.
Image from Cochrane Handbook Section 6.4.a: Combining concepts as search sets
You may also choose to organize your thoughts into a chart, as shown below.
Concepts: Substance Abuse | Teenagers | Randomized Controlled Trials
Substance Abuse |
AND |
Teenagers |
AND |
Randomized Controlled |
OR |
OR |
OR |
||
Addiction |
Youth |
RCT |
||
OR |
OR |
OR |
||
Alcohol Abuse |
Young Adult |
Controlled Clinical |
||
OR |
OR |
OR |
||
Addictive Behavior |
Adolescent |
Placebo |
||
OR |
OR |
OR |
||
Drug abuse |
Highschool |
Blinded |
||
OR |
|
|
||
Addict |
|
|
||
OR |
|
|
||
Narcotics |
|
|
Search Strategies Must Always be Tailored to the Database!
This work is openly licensed via CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. For information on this guide contact Erica Nekolaichuk, Faculty Liaison & Instruction Librarian at the Gerstein Science Information Centre.
Gerstein Science Information Centre
9 King's College Circle
Toronto, ON, M5S 1A5
ask.gerstein@utoronto.ca
416-978-2280
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