Many
databases provide a feature called proximity searching.
Proximity searching
is used with a keyword or Boolean search. The
simplest example of proximity searching is a search for a phrase, e.g.
blood pressure.
Most
search systems will interpret two or three words, separated only by spaces,
as a phrase, but some search systems will assume an and
or an or between the words.
If you get unexpected results
when trying to search for a phrase, you can try putting quotation marks
around the phrase to make sure that the system understands it as such.
"blood pressure"
"evidence based practice"
"rock and roll"
You can also use
special operators--combinations of letters and numbers that vary with
each search system--to search for two or more words that occur within
a specified number of words of each other.
Because all systems are different,
it is a good idea to check the online HELP screens to find out what
kinds of proximity and phrase searches are possible.
