Boolean operators

This guide shows one how to get the most

relevant results

when searching for resources

PS: it will save you time too!

By Fiona Jones, adapted by Linda Kelly l Academic Librarian @ UCT Libraries

SEARCH BOX:

STRUCTURED SCREEN:

BOOLEAN SEARCHING

2

This format probably looks

familiar…

It makes use of terms &

Boolean operators

A simplified example

is used

to demonstrate

Boolean searching

1. Write down your topic in its simplest form.

Then break it up into CONCEPTS.

The impact of climate change on natural resources & sustainable development

Concept 1 Concept 2 Concept 3

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2. Think of key words that describe each of your concepts

CONCEPT 1

Environmental change

Global warming

CONCEPT 2

Water

ocean

sea

river

CONCEPT 3

Sustainable development

The impact of climate change on natural resources & sustainable development

Concept 1 Concept 3 Concept 2

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3. Construct your search strategy

Boolean logic provides the language one uses to structure a keyword search.

The search engine needs to know how your search terms relate

to each other.

In Boolean searching, one makes use of the three Boolean operators:

AND OR NOT 6

Use AND to combine different concepts:

“Climate change AND Water “

Climate

change

Water

• Using ‘AND’ narrows your search.

• It retrieves items containing all of the search terms or keywords that you specify.

• The blue shaded area represents the search results.

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Use OR to enter keywords for the same (single) concept:

“Water OR Sea OR rivers OR Ocean”

WATER

RIVERS

SEA

OCEAN

• Using ‘OR’ broadens your search.

• It retrieves items containing any one of the search terms or keywords that you specify.

• The shaded area represents the search results. 8

Use NOT to get rid of unwanted results:

“water NOT rivers”

Water Rivers

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Environmental Change OR

Global warming

Water

OR

Sea

OR

Ocean

OR

Rivers

Sustainable Development AND

CONCEPT 1

Environmental Change

Global warming

CONCEPT 2

Water

Sea

Ocean

Rivers

CONCEPT 3

Sustainable development

AND

The impact of climate change on natural resources & sustainable development

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ONE SEARCH BOX: Use brackets to separate your concepts

STRUCTURED SCREEN:

Water OR ocean OR sea OR rivers

Sustainable Development

(Environmental Change OR climate change OR global warming) AND (water OR ocean OR sea OR rivers) AND

Sustainable Development

4. Type your search strategy

Environmental Change OR climate change OR global warming

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Remember to keep track of

what & where you search.

For more info see the

“Simplified Searching Example” guide

&

download the template.