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Library Research Tutorial

William Hessel Library

Boolean Searching

• What is Boolean?
• Using the AND operator.
• Using the OR operator.
• Using the NOT operator.

What is Boolean?

The primary operations of Boolean logic are AND, OR, and NOT. Boolean logic is named after the 19th century English mathematician George Boole. As add, subtract, multiply, and divide are the primary operations of mathematics, the primary operations of Boolean logic are AND, OR, and NOT. These operators can be applied when searching electronic databases the library subscribes to such as CQ Researcher, EBSCOhost, Lexis-Nexis, and WilsonSelect (FirstSearch), and netLibrary.

Boolean is a searching tool. A Boolean search helps to focus the search on exactly the information desired.

Using the AND operator.

Here is a Boolean search using AND in the full-text magazine database, Academic Search Elite (EBSCOhost):

This search will look for the terms "education" and "technology" together and has been set up so it searches the Default Fields. Therefore, it is considered a keyword search and articles will be retrieved that find the words "education" and "technology" anywhere in the title of the article, the title of the magazine, the assigned subject headings, or summary of the article.

Here is a retrieved cited article that shows both the words, "education" and "technology" mentioned in the summary field:

Using the Boolean, AND, with two or more search terms will help to limit or reduce down the number of results. For example, if the above search was only for the word "education" the results would be larger than using both "education" and "technology" together. To try doing your own Boolean AND search, go to: EBSCOhost and select Academic Search Elite.

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Using the OR operator.

Here is a Boolean search using OR in the database, Academic Search Elite (EBSCOhost):

This search will look for EITHER the terms "aggressive driving" OR "road rage" and has been set up so it searches the Default Fields. Therefore, it is considered a keyword search. Articles will be retrieved that find either "aggressive driving" or "road rage" anywhere in the title of the article, the title of the magazine, the assigned subject headings, or summary of the article.

Below are two retrieved cited articles that contain either terms:

To try doing your own Boolean OR search, go to: EBSCOhost and select Academic Search Elite.

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Using the NOT operator.

Here is a Boolean search using NOT in the database, Academic Search Elite (EBSCOhost):

This search will look for the search terms, "instruction" AND "secondary" but will eliminate "elementary." The search has been set up so it searches the Default Fields. Therefore, it is considered a keyword search. Articles will be retrieved that find "instruction" AND "secondary" anywhere in the title of the article, the title of the magazine, the assigned subject headings, or summary of the article. Articles that have all three terms: instruction, secondary, & elementary will NOT be retrieved since the NOT Boolean is rejecting the word "elementary."

Below is a retrieved cited article:

To try doing your own Boolean NOT search, go to: EBSCOhost and select Academic Search Elite.

If your instructor has assignments about Boolean searching, go to: Blackboard.

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Note: When you select one of the online tutorial resources linked to the left of this screen, you will be given more information on using Boolean Operators and other search techniques for these specific online resources.