searching for articles searching techniques using boolean boolean logic means to do keyword...

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SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SE A RCHING T E CHNIQUES USIN G B O OLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define your search. VENN Diagram is used to show Boolean logic Synonyms are words that have similar meanings—e.g. trash and garbage are synonyms Concepts: “AND” “OR”

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Page 1: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

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Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define your search. VENN Diagram is used to show Boolean logicSynonyms are words that have similar meanings—e.g. trash and garbage are synonyms

Concepts:

“AND” “OR”

Page 2: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

YOUR ASSIGNMENTBeavan (2009) argues that we use most of the items we buy for very short periods of time. Given this situation, he and other advocates of sustainability argue that we need to reduce the number of items we buy and to give our items afterlives by reusing what we buy. For this assignment, your task is to analyze the costs and benefits of two possible afterlives for a single common item and then make an argument for which afterlife is most appealing. You must include reference to at least 3 academic sources, a table comparing costs and benefits of each afterlife over 1, 5 and 10 years, and a line graph highlighting a key point of comparison.

WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO?

• Analyze the costs and benefits of two possible afterlives for a single common item• Use at least 3 academic or reliable sources• Create a table comparing costs and benefits• Use APA style to cite your sources 2

Page 3: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

TODAY’S ACTIVITY: FINDING THE 3 SOURCESObjectives of Lesson• Writing research questions• Use Boolean searching—AND and OR-- for finding

scholarly and/or reliable articles in Academic Search Complete (a library database)

• Start doing research for your assignment

OMG! Boolean logic sounds very, very hard!

It’s not!!3

Page 4: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

BOOLEAN LOGIC: ACTIVITY

Activity: Using “AND” and “OR”

Cards:

52 cards in a deck; 4 suits; 2 colors; 12 Face cards (Jack, Queen, King)

Directions: Look at your card. Stand up and put your card on your forehead when your card is called.

1. Face card or red card

2. Face card and red card

3. (Black or red card) and (black card and queen)QUIZ:1. I got too many documents. I need to narrow

mysearch. My topic must be too broad. 2. I did my search and got nothing! I need to

broaden orexpand my topic.

“OR” gives me more

AND

OR4

Page 5: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

BOOLEAN LOGIC OFTEN USES VENN DIAGRAMS

Face Card

Red Card

OR

Face Card

Red CardOnly this area

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Page 6: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

A B

C

Which area would be:

A and B and C

You just used Boolean logic. Now let’s use it to do our assignment.

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Page 7: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

DATABASES DO NOT WORK LIKE GOOGLE!

Important

About 266,000 results (0.39 seconds)

It isn’t because there are no articles in the database about concealed guns on college campuses--we're not putting in our search words the right way.

1.

2.

WHY DID YOU GET SO MANY HITS IN GOOGLE, BUT NONE IN THE DATABASE?

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Page 8: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

WHY NO HITS FOR THE DATABASE?

• Google automatically uses “OR” between each word• Concealed OR guns OR college OR campus

• The database searches for the exact phrase--concealed guns on college campuses--unless you tell it not to by doing Boolean keyword searching (using the “AND” and “OR”)

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Basic search

Boolean is an Advanced Search

Page 9: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

LET’S USE BOOLEAN SEARCHING

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• Advanced Search• Full Text marked• Keywords

“anywhere” using “AND”

Don’t start with a “subject keyword” search. Once you find the perfect article,see what the keywords are then search under subject.

Page 10: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

STEPS IN DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT

Your task is to analyze the costs and benefits of two possible afterlives for a single common item

1. Pick your common item

2. Turn the above statement into a question

3. Think in terms of keywords. Pick out the most important keyword—and their synonyms-- in your question.

4. Use keywords and Boolean logic and search for articles in a database (Academic Search Complete)

Common itemsprinter paper, soda bottles or cans, sneakers, candy wrappers, pens, cell phones, paper cups, car tires, milk cartons, plastic shopping bags, and cardboard boxes. 10

Page 11: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

RESEARCH: START WITH ASKING QUESTIONS

• Questions require answers• Questions give you a way of evaluating answers• A clearly stated question helps you decide which

information will be useful• A question also makes it easier to know when you have

enough information to stop your research• A clear open-ended question calls for real research and

thinking

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Page 12: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

WRITING THE RESEARCH QUESTION

• “Concealed guns on college campuses” is not a question—it is a statement

• So what??

• What is the focus of your research? Do you think concealed guns should be allowed on college campuses or do you think there should be laws banning guns? What are colleges doing to protect students? Are states involved in writing laws?

• You need to turn the statement into a research question—this narrows your search

• If you don’t know what kind of a question to ask, do some sample searches using keywords

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From topic: Concealed guns on college campuses

To Question: Should there be laws banning concealed weapons college campuses?

Page 13: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH RESEARCH QUESTIONS

• The question is too broad to be manageable• How are environmental disasters being fought?• How effective are the current practices for cleaning oil spills?

• The question is too narrow--sometimes the narrowness is logical (such as there being an easily obtainable "right" answer), and sometimes it is too narrow given the availability of resources• How many girls are forced into prostitution each year?• What are the traits that make girls vulnerable for being forced

into prostitution?

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Let’s Practice!!

Page 14: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

STEPS

• Pick your common item• Turn this topic or statement into a question• What are the “keywords” in your question

Think of similar words—synonyms—for the keywords you have chosen. What words mean the same?

Use Academic Search Complete and start searching!

Your task is to analyze the costs and benefits of two possible afterlives for a single common item

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Page 15: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

LET’S WRITE THE QUESTION

Your task is to analyze the costs and benefits of two possible afterlives for a single common item

• Sometimes before turning a topic or statement into a question, you need to analyze the words

• Do you see any “troublesome” words? Why? • “Afterlife” also refers to death and heaven; it

is also hard to frame a question using the word “afterlife”.

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Page 16: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

THE QUESTION: THINK KEYWORDS

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• What are words that are similar in meaning to “afterlife”? (What are these words called?)• Recycling/Recycle• Reuse• Lifespan

What are the costs and benefits of recycling inner tubes?

Always start with fewer words!

Page 17: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

PICK YOUR KEYWORDS

• Many different words or phrases can be used for one idea

• In keyword searching, it is important to try many different words or phrases

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benefits | recycling | inner tubesadvantages afterlife rubber tubes

reuse bicycle tubes

ORAND

Suggestion: • Start with just two words• ITEM and recycling

Page 18: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

THE REUSE OF TIRE INNER TUBES

Elanit Neutra, Israili handbag designer extraordinaire, encourages us to get more mileage out of our purses by creating her designs out of recycled tire inner tubes. If you think her designs are only suitable for female auto mechanics and other various tomboys - think again.

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Page 19: SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES SEARCHING TECHNIQUES USING BOOLEAN Boolean Logic means to do keyword searching using the words AND, and OR to limit, widen, or define

ACTIVITY

• This activity is going to focus on finding three academic articles

• You will:• Practice writing your research question• Write down keywords from your question• Do a full-text search in Academic Search Complete• Use the Boolean operator “AND”

• After searching and re-searching, write down the title of an article that is “right on”.

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