3.4 Search Basics: Building a Search
After generating keywords for our search, we can put them together to build an effective search.
Boolean Operators (AND, OR)
We can build a search using boolean operators AND and OR
OR
Use OR to broaden your search to include any of the specified keywords. We use OR to combine related words or synonyms within a concept.
Example: migration OR migrate OR movement
AND
Use AND to narrow your search to include all of the specified key
words. We use AND to combine separate concepts, so that your search will include all topics needed.
Example: whale AND migration
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More Search Tools
Truncation * |
Use an asterisk (*) at the end of a root word to find all variations of that word. | Example: migrat* will find migrate, migrates, migration |
Phrases ” “ |
Put phrases in quotation marks to search for those exact words in that order. | Example: “climate change” |
Parentheses (Brackets) |
Use parentheses to differentiate concepts within complex searches. This means each set of OR terms should be in a set of parentheses. | Example: (“killer whale” OR orca) AND (diet OR food) |
Putting Your Search Together
Use all of these tools to put your search together. Lets take the example research question from the last chapter (How does global warming affect whale migration?) and the keywords generated.
Concept |
Keywords |
| 1. Global warming | Global warming, climate change |
| 2. Whales | Whales |
| 3. Migration | Migration or movement |
Final Search
(“global warming” OR climate change”) AND whale* AND (migrat* OR movement)
