Boolean searching (named after George Boole) is used by most databases to focus searches. Examples of each term and search strategy are given below. A few tips to start:
Use AND to connect two or more concepts
Example 1:
classroom management AND student behavior
Some databases use "+" instead of (or in addition to) AND.
Use NOT to exclude concepts from your search.
Example 3:
osteoporosis NOT arthritis
Some databases use "-" or AND NOT instead of NOT.
In addition to Boolean terms, search strategies can include other options including Proximity Indicators (e.g., NEAR, ADJ, and PRE), truncation or Wildcard symbols (?, and *), the hyphen (-), and specialized options (e.g. SAME or EXACT). See the Additional Search Options tab.
Use OR to connect two or more similar concepts (synonyms)
Example 2:
assessments OR evaluations
Here are a number of examples in combining three concepts with Boolean terms.