Truncation allows you to scoop up all forms of a word when searching. Although every database is different, most databases recognize the asterisks symbol as the truncation command. For instance, instead of typing in the word children in the example on the left, use the root word followed by the asterisk symbol - child*. This would return any articles with the root word child in any of its forms - child, children, child's, children's, childhood. You will find more articles because the database is looking for several words rather than just one. Here's another example:
Search term: Computer
Truncated: Comput*
Will return articles with the words: computer, compute, computes, computation
Often your research includes words that need to go together in a phrase. In most databases, typing the phrase in quoation marks will keep your terms together, rather than searching for each word individually anywhere in the document.
Here's an example.
Topic: Judicial System
Search: Judicial System
Resulting article text has the word judicial and the word system, but not necessarily together.
Search: "Judicial System"
Resulting article text has the words judicial and system together as a phrase.
Boolean searching is like using algebra with words. There are three common Boolean operators that can be used in most databases and search engines to help you narrow or broaden your search.
AND
OR
NOT
Without Boolean logic, searching would be very difficult. Let's say you wanted to research the topic of violence on television. Searching each concept individually would be a nightmare.
Use AND when you want both terms to show up in all the entries in your results list. You will end up with fewer results, but the results will be more focused on your topic
Use OR to get more results, particularly when you're not sure what terms the author may have used to describe your concept. Lets say you are beginning to refine your topic to be more specific. You are interested in research on the topic of television violence and its effect of children. Brainstorm other words that an author might use instead of the word children - child, youth, toddler, adolescent, teenager, etc. Here's where the search statement starts to look algebraic -
The results will be articles containing both the words television and violence and any one of the terms in orange (the intersection between all three circles). The articles will be much more specific to your topic.
Use NOT to eliminate a term that is showing up in the results, but is not pertinent to your search. Perhaps you want to learn about the effects of television violence on children before they reach adolescents. You can create a search statement that looks something like this: