Constructing a Basic Search

Like writing a paper, the first step in constructing a Boolean search is selecting a topic. The next step is selecting an index that contains the kind of information you're looking for. After you have come up with a topic and selected an index, you need to develop terms that will allow you to find records that match your topic, and then combine them using Boolean connectors. Finally select the fields you want to search. 

Your goal is to be as precise as possible when you retrieve records. While the process may be slightly different for each database, the general concepts of performing a search are normally the same, regardless of which database you are searching.

Step 1- Selecting a topic. Remember that you want to select a topic that has been researched and studied. In this example, we'll examine the debate about whether homelessness in the United States is primarily a problem relating to mental health care or inadequate housing. The best way to develop terms for a good search is to frame your topic in the form of a question or statement.  Ultimately, you will present an argument on a topic. Before you can take a position, however, you will want to look at the research on the topic. A good research question might be:

What is the relationship between government policy on housing and homelessness?  

Step 2- Selecting a database that contains information about your topic. You will have to choose from one of approximately seventy subscribed indexes and databases.  You can view a list of all the periodical database indexes at CSUB by going to the library homepage and selecting periodical databases. If you are unsure which database to select, look at the subject list. Most periodical databases are either general or subject specific.  Our question isn't really subject specific. It's not a math question or a literature or a psychology question.  Initially, we're going to want to choose a general index that contains information from a variety of subject disciplines, because our question involves law, psychology, public health, and public policy.  For our question, our best choices would be WilsonWeb's Omnifile or Ebsco's Academic Search Elite.  We'll use the Academic Search Elite.

Step 3- Develop a search strategy based on your research question, using Boolean connectors. This is the process for developing your search terms that will allow you to find articles that relate to your topic:

Examine your question and select the key terms: 

What is the relationship between government policy on housing and homelessness?

Try to think of some synonyms or related words for your terms:

     homelessness-homeless

  housing- shelter

Use truncation.  Truncation means to cut short.  In other words, if two terms, like "homelessness" and "homeless," begin with the same root (homeless), you can truncate it to find all words that begin with that root. The truncation symbol is usually an asterisk (*), but in some databases it may be a question mark or another symbol like an exclamation point (!).

homeless*

shelter*

Why wouldn't you truncate policy?

Combine your terms into sets using "and" or "or." Generally synonyms will be combined using "or."

Set 1- (homeless*)

Set 2- (housing or shelter*)

Set 3- (policy)

Combine your sets using "and"

(homeless*) and (housing or shelter*) and (policy)

Step 4- Select the fields you want to search.

Normally you will want to try the broadest set of fields first.  In this case we will search default fields.  If we wanted to narrow it, we could search for our terms as subject descriptors or in the title.

Step 5- Enter your search. If the database provides multiple entry lines and links them using Boolean connectors, like the search above, you don't have to use parentheses. 

Step 6- Set limits, if necessary. You'll notice there a number of limits you can set. If you want articles within a range of dates, from a specific journal, or if you want peer-reviewed research only, you can set these limits, for example.  Remember that the more limits you place on your search, the fewer articles you will retrieve.

Perform the search, first as a search in the default fields.

Next, narrow the search to peer-reviewed articles only.

Now, perform a search for peer-reviewed articles, but limit the first two lines to subject only.

Finally, perform a search for peer-reviewed articles, but limit all three lines to subject only.

Notice how you can control the number the records you retrieve and the precision with which the articles match your topic.