Boolean Operators are simple words (AND, OR, NOT ) used as conjunctions to combine or exclude keywords in a search, resulting in more focused and productive results. Databases, when displaying their Advanced Search modality, always include these three words as optional connectors between separate search bars. If typing them in yourself within a single search query, they MUST BE CAPITALIZED to function properly.
AND
Use AND to narrow a search and retrieve records containing all of the words it separates, e.g. adolescents AND children will only find records containing both these words.
OR
Use OR to broaden a search and retrieve records containing any of the words it separates, e.g.adolescents OR children will find records containing adolescents only, children only, or both words.
NOT
Use NOT to narrow a search and retrieve records that do not contain the term following it, e.g. adolescents NOT children will find records that contain adolescents, but will not contain the word children
Use of RIT resources is reserved for current RIT students, faculty
and staff for academic and teaching purposes only.
Please contact your librarian with any questions.
