PrePALS Writing

How do you search?  What information do you enter in the search box?

First, you must identify a few key words that accurately describe the topic you are researching.  It may be helpful to also use alternate words that have the same meaning (synonyms).

Most databases allow the option to choose words and search methods that will enhance the search.  The two most common are called "Boolean Searching," and "Truncation."

Boolean Searching

Boolean searching allows you to use AND, OR, and NOT to combine your search terms. Here are some examples:

1. “Endangered Species” AND “Global Warming” When you combine search terms with AND, you’ll get results in which BOTH terms are present. Using AND limits the number of results because all search terms must appear in your results.

   

2. “Arizona Prisons” OR “Rhode Island Prisons” When you use OR, you’ll get results with EITHER search term. Using OR increases the number of results because either search term can appear in your results.

   

3. “Miami Dolphins” NOT “Football” When you use NOT, you’ll get results that exclude a search term. Using NOT limits the number of results.

Truncation

Truncation allows you to search different forms of the same word at the same time. Use the root of a word and add an asterisk (*) as a substitute for the word’s ending. It can save time and increase your search to include related words. For example, a search  for “Psycho*” would pull results on psychology, psychological, psychologist, psychosis, and psychoanalyst.

Attribution:

Academic Writing I | Lisa Ford, Tompkins Cortland Community College

License: Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike .

 Add / Reorder  

Attributions:

"EBSCOHOST Basic Search - Tutorial" Youtube, uploaded by EBSCO Tutorials, 23 March 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT833d5F2yI&t=1s.

Permissions: YouTube Terms of Service

1. Identify the keywords in the following research question:

 “How does repeated pesticide use in agriculture impact soil and groundwater pollution?”

 Answer:  Pesticide, agriculture, soil, groundwater, pollution. You want to focus on the main idea and can ignore common words that don’t have any meaning.

2. When you search, it’s helpful to think of synonyms for your keywords to examine various results. What synonyms can you think of for the keywords identified in the question above?

Answer: Pesticide: agrochemicals, pest management, weed management, diazinan, malathion. Agriculture: farming, food crops, specific types of crops. Soil: earth, clay, organic components. Groundwater: watershed, water resources, water table, aquatics, rivers, lakes. Pollution: environmental impact, degradation, exposure, acid rain

Attribution:

Academic Writing I | Lisa Ford, Tompkins Cortland Community College

License: Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike .

Database Search Skills Assessment

Instructions:
 Read each question carefully and answer using complete sentences. Use what you learned about identifying keywords, Boolean searching, and truncation to guide your responses.

Part 1: Keyword Identification

1. You are researching the effects of social media on teenagers’ mental health.
   a. Identify three key words you would use to search for information on this topic.
   b. Suggest two synonyms or alternate words for each keyword that could also be useful in your search.

Part 2: Boolean Searching

2. Using the keywords you identified in Part 1, write three example search queries using Boolean operators: AND, OR, NOT.
   
   Example format:

• Keyword1 AND Keyword2
• Keyword1 OR Keyword2
• Keyword1 NOT Keyword2

3. Explain why you chose each Boolean operator for your example search. How does it change the search results?

Part 3: Truncation

4. Choose one of your keywords from Part 1 and create a truncated version using an asterisk (*).
5. List at least three words that your truncated search would include in the results.

Part 4: Search Application

6. Imagine you are searching a database for scholarly articles about renewable energy in the United States. Write a complete search query using at least one Boolean operator and one truncation.
7. Explain how your search query helps you find more relevant results than a simple keyword search.

Part 5: Reflection

8. In 2–3 sentences, explain why it is important to use Boolean searching and truncation when conducting research in a database.