Boolean Searching

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Boolean Searching

• In 20 minutes or less

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Searching electronic databases

• Dynamic environment, constant development and
  change
• Each search engine is different their algorithm
  is their industrial secret
• But Boolean searching is the basis
• Organizes concepts in sets
• Used by WWW search engines and database publishers

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Boolean Logic

• George Boole in 1840s
• AND (retrieves any word in search, relationship
  to each other on page not important)
• OR (document contains at least one of the words
  searched)
• NOT, sometimes ANDNOT (excludes term)
• Boolean Machine
• no CAPS, no guarantee

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Databases at GSO Librarya sampler of the DEEP web

• Databases will describe search logic, and add
  delimiters
• Databases host Basic Search, Subject Search,
  Advanced Search Boolean Search
• Reference FOF, EBSCO, EB, WW
• Key words and events (clues for extended
  searching)
• Magazine, Journal, News VOL, JSTOR
• Books Destiny

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Searching the SURFACE web

• Because it is ubiquitous
• AND is automatically assumed
• specific phrase
• (search first) Parenthesis force the order of
  search
• (cat OR feline) AND behavior
• Implied Boolean
• AND word
• NOT -word
• Using Advanced Search template
• OR Google does not recognize OR unless in
  Advanced Search template
• Lets search
• Experiment add the word database to search try
  Google MORE try a deep web SE like LII or IA or
  Project Gutenberg

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Summary

• Dynamic information technology environment
• Boolean Searching AND, OR, NOT
• Databases
• Searching the WWW
• Two helpful links Internet Tutorials and Bare
  Bones from USC