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Database Searching. The Basics. Select a research topic Develop a list of keywords Databases are literal – if you type in a phrase it will search for the phrase world war ii soldiers For more flexibility, use Boolean operators/connectors. Boolean Searching.
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The Basics • Select a research topic • Develop a list of keywords • Databases are literal – if you type in a phrase it will search for the phraseworld war ii soldiers • For more flexibility, use Boolean operators/connectors
Boolean Searching • Use Boolean operators/connectors to tell the database which results you need. • AND, OR, and NOT • Use Boolean operators to connect your keywords together.
Topic: African American soldiers in World World II
Boolean – AND • Narrows your search. • Records must include all of the combined terms. african americans and world war ii
Boolean – OR • Broadens your search • Records include at least 1 of the terms. • Generally used to combine synonyms, related terms, alternate spellings, and acronyms african americans or negroes
Combining Boolean operators (african americans or negroes) and world war ii
Truncation / wildcard • Search for several words with the same root by entering each word connected with OR or by truncating the word. • Helps retrieve singular and plural forms of words • black* finds black, blacks • The truncation symbol acts as an OR: black OR blacks • Check the database to determine the appropriate truncation symbol (? OR * OR !)
Developing a search statement Topic: media during the world war ii
Developing a search statement TOPIC: Media during the world war ii Key Concepts Related terms: People Places Events Dates Organizations An encyclopedia or google may behelpful in identifying these terms. Synonyms
Example Media during the world war ii Related Terms: • Edward R. Murrow • Ernie Pyle • Stars and Stripes • Walter Cronkite • Claire Booth Luce • Robert Sherrod • Correspondents • Journalists • Life magazine • New York Times Found in Encyclopedia of the World War II and via google media world war ii pressnewspapersjournalismradio World war iiworld war 1939 1945
Search Statements Type keywords / key concepts / key phrases linked by Boolean connectors into databases: • media AND world war ii • (radio OR broadcast* OR journalism) AND (world war ii OR world war 1939 1945) • (murrow OR luce) AND (world war ii OR world war 1939 1945)