Search Techniques

SEARCH TECHNIQUES 
C.   Constructing a search statement: Boolean operators

The Boolean operators AND, OR, and NOT allow you to combine search terms depending on whether you want to broaden or narrow your search. 

NOTE: Use NOT with caution -- you may exclude relevant records.  In the search above, you would not retrieve this relevant article:  "The management of diabetes in adolescents and young adults", because it contains the word "adults." 

In some cases, you may need to use parentheses if you are trying to combine ORs or ANDs in the same statement.

diabetes and (adolescents or teenagers)

Without the parentheses, the computer may interpret your statement in an erroneous way:  
(diabetes and adolescents) or teenagers  retrieving all articles with the word teenagers.

Many databases provide boxes for you to organize your search terms. Here is an example of the "CINAHL Plus with Full Text" advanced search screen:

YOUR TURN: For your topic, use Boolean operators AND and OR to combine your search terms.

 

CHECK YOURSELF

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