Boolean = AND OR NOT
Boolean Operators link concepts and are used to broaden or narrow your search.
AND - finds results with your all search terms. AND narrows your search.
OR - finds results with any of your search terms. OR broadens your search.
NOT - finds search terms only before the NOT. NOT narrows your search.
Many databases have an Advanced Search option with a pull down menu that allows you to choose a Boolean operator and a Field Type, such as Title or Author. When searching a database using your own search strategy, the Boolean terms must be capitalized.
Boolean is faster
Instead of doing many searches...
Search #1: palliative care AND quality of life AND breast cancer
Search #2: palliative care AND well being AND breast neoplasms
Search #3: palliative care AND life quality AND breast carciinoma
ETC.
Do ONE search
(palliative care OR hospice OR terminal care OR end of life care) AND (quality of life OR QOL OR life quality OR well being) AND (breast cancer OR breast carcinoma OR breast neoplasm)
Adding Boolean to the Search
Now each group of concepts and synonyms will be combined using the Boolean term OR. This means that at least one term within the parentheses should be found.
| Major Concepts | Synonyms | Combine Synonyms |
|---|---|---|
| palliative care | palliative care, hospice, terminal care, end of life care | (palliative care OR hospice OR terminal care OR end of life care) |
| quality of life | quality of life, QOL, life quality, well being | (quality of life OR QOL OR life quality OR well being) |
| breast cancer | breast cancer, breast neoplasm, breast carcinoma | (breast cancer OR breast neoplasm OR breast carcinoma) |
Now, each concept group will be joined with AND. This means that our search will find at least one of the terms within each group in parantheses AND ALSO at least one of the terms in each additional group.
| Join the Concepts |
|---|
| (palliative care OR hospice OR terminal care OR end of life care) AND (quality of life OR QOL OR life quality OR well being) AND (breast cancer OR breast neoplasm OR breast carcinoma) |
Next, we'll use some advanced search techniques to refine the search even further.