Title: Boolean search and keywords
Course: Library Instruction Tutorials

Q: Adding concepts to one another in a Boolean search, using the operator and, will do which of the following?
- Reduce the number of results you will get from a catalog or database
- Increase the number of results you will get from a catalog or database
- Find the concepts where they are close together
- Both a. and b.
A: Reduce the number of results you will get from a catalog or database

Construct a keyword Boolean search statement that includes at least four of the six main components that we have studied this semester: and, or, not, proximity operators, truncation codes, and wildcard characters.  (2 pts).

Q: Which of the following will often increase your number of results in a library catalog or journal article database search?
- The or operator or connector
- A truncation code such as an asterisk (*) or a question mark (?)
- The and operator or connector
- The not operator or connector
- Both a. and b.
A: Both a. and b.

Q: Internet search engines use terms or phrases that are equivalent to the connector terms used in Boolean searches. Which word phrase is most synonymous to the Boolean search connector OR?
- None of these
- All of these
- Any of these
- This exact word or phrase
A: Any of these

Q: Synonyms are defined as two or more words with opposite meanings.
- True
- False
A: False

Q: A good application of the OR Command in a Boolean search is to connect __________________.
- Words on different levels of the taxonomic hierarchy (No, the OR operator is recommended to connect antonyms and synonyms on the same level of a hierarchy, not different levels of a hierarchy. (boy or girl or child). See 3.2.2 in Research Strategies.)
- Synonyms (Yes, the OR operator is recommended to connect antonyms and synonyms on the same level of a hierarchy, not different levels of a hierarchy. (boy or girl or child). See 3.2.2 in Research Strategies.)
- Different concepts (No, the OR operator is recommended to connect antonyms and synonyms on the same level of a hierarchy, not different levels of a hierarchy. (boy or girl or child). See 3.2.2 in Research Strategies.)
- Words you do not want (No, the OR operator is recommended to connect antonyms and synonyms on the same level of a hierarchy, not different levels of a hierarchy. (boy or girl or child). See 3.2.2 in Research Strategies.)
A: Synonyms

Enter a single Boolean search statement correctly, combining at least five out of the six kinds of operators, characters, or symbols: and, or, not, proximity operator, wildcard character, and truncation code. Enter this search statement on one line.

Remember to include parentheses when it is appropriate to do so.
Feedback: One point for each operator or code, and one point if parentheses or other syntax items are used correctly or spelling is correct.

Q: When conducting a keyword search and adding a different keyword to the search with the AND operator, what usually happens to your number of results?
- Connecting two different keywords with AND in an article database generally will return more results than a search with just one of those original keywords.
- Connecting two different keywords with AND in an article database generally will return fewer results than a search with just one of those original keywords.
- It depends.
A: Connecting two different keywords with AND in an article database generally will return fewer results than a search with just one of those original keywords.

Q: If synonyms are added to a search statement and grouped together within parentheses with OR connecting them, what will normally happen to the number of search results?
- It usually increases the number of results.
- It usually decreases the number of results.
- It depends.
A: It usually increases the number of results.

Q: What does a proximity operator tell the database to do? Examples of proximity operators: N4, N3, W2. Select the best answer that is always true.
- Find two keywords in records where they are close together.
- Find words with multiple endings in the database records.
- Replace one or zero letters of a word, so the database can find multiple spellings of that word.
- Find more results for you.
- Find fewer results for you.
A: Find two keywords in records where they are close together.

Q: What does a truncation code do?
- Find two keywords in records where they are close together.
- Find words with multiple endings in the database records.
- Replace one or zero letters of a word, so the database can find multiple spellings of a word.
- Find fewer results for you
A: Find words with multiple endings in the database records.

Q: What does a wildcard character do? Examples of wildcard characters in the EBSCOhost article databases: ?, #.
- Find two keywords in records where they are close together.
- Find words with multiple endings in database records.
- Replace one or zero letters of a word, so the database can find multiple spellings of a word.
- Reduce the number of results in your search by excluding a particular word.
A: Replace one or zero letters of a word, so the database can find multiple spellings of a word.

What are the five parts of information literacy or the five learning objectives for this course?

Enter a Boolean search statement correctly using at least four out of the six kinds of operators, characters, or symbols:
- AND
- OR
- NOT
- Proximity operator
- Wildcard character
- Truncation code

Remember to include parentheses when it is appropriate to do so.

Q: According to William Badke, be sure you do not use too many keywords at once. Start with one or two, and if that does not give you what you want, try one more. Rarely will you need more than three.
- True (Yes, this is something William Badke says. See page 99. According to William Badke, "be sure you do not use too many keywords at once. Start with one or two, and that does not give you what you want, try one more. Rarely will you need more than three" (99).)
- False (No, this is something William Badke says. See page 99. According to William Badke, "be sure you do not use too many keywords at once. Start with one or two, and that does not give you what you want, try one more. Rarely will you need more than three" (99).)
A: True
Feedback: See page 99 or section 5.1.1.

Choose between one of the two options given below:

Option One: What are the five parts of information literacy or the five learning objectives for this course? Name all five parts.

Option Two: Which assignment or type of assignment was the most helpful in accomplishing the information-literacy objectives for this course? Why? Identify two or three learning objectives this assignment or assignment type addressed.

Choose between one of the two options given below:
- Option One: What are the five information-literacy competency standards? Minimum: 75 words
- Option Two: Briefly describe a time when you have used information-literacy skills to get something done. Be sure to include in your description how you used the five information-literacy skills/standards. Minimum: 75 words

Q: The important, and difficult, thing to understand is that Boolean logic is the opposite of addition and subtraction in arithmetic.  When you add concepts to one another in a Boolean search (using the connector and), you are reducing the number of results you will get from a catalog or database because you are being more precise about what you want.
- True (Yes, this is a direct quote from page 108. Sample search: apples and oranges and pears = All the results must have each and every one of these words somewhere in the record, whether they appear in the title, summary, subject heading, publisher's name, etc. it does not matter. This reduces the number of results in the end.)
- False (No, this is a direct quote from page 108. Sample search: apples and oranges and pears = All the results must have each and every one of these words somewhere in the record, whether they appear in the title, summary, subject heading, publisher's name, etc. it does not matter. This reduces the number of results in the end.)
A: True

Q: Which of the following are examples of truncation?
- "apple juice"
- nurs?
- kites AND electricity
- wom?n
A: nurs?; wom?n

Q: Which of the Boolean Operators (OR AND NOT) is best when searching for synonyms?  Like- car/automobile
- AND
- OR (Very good- OR is best used to search for words that are similar in meaning.)
- NOT
A: OR

Q: What is the truncation symbol in the ISU Library catalog?  Remember- you use a truncation symbol when you want to find variations of a word.  Like: child, children, childhood, etc.
- * (asterisk) Example: child* (This is the correct symbol for almost everything else, but not the library catalog.)
- # (pound sign) Example: child#
- @ (at symbol) Example: child@
- ? (question mark) Example: child? (Yes! Another example is: Librar? would search for library, librarian, libraries, etc. Hooray truncation!)
A: ? (question mark) Example: child?

Q: Which of the Boolean Operators (OR AND NOT) is best when searching for synonyms?  Like- car/automobile
- AND (Nope- AND is best to use with words that are not similar. Like, dogs AND libraries.)
- OR (Very good- OR is best used to search for words that are similar in meaning.)
- NOT
A: OR

Q: The AND command narrows down a search.  In other words, you will have fewer results (articles, books, etc.) if you use AND to combine your searches.
- True (Yes! Combining two or more searches using AND will always narrow the search.)
- False (Nope- AND helps focus a search which means there will be fewer results.)
A: True

Q: The Boolean operator, NOT, should be used with caution as it can exclude perfectly good information from your search.
- True (Yes. NOT is great to use, but it can over-limit your search. Use it carefully, if at all!)
- False
A: True

Enter a single Boolean search statement correctly, combining at least four out of the six kinds of operators, characters, or symbols: and, or, not, proximity operator, wildcard character, and truncation code. Enter this search statement on one line.

Remember to include parentheses when it is appropriate to do so.
Feedback: One point for each operator or code, and one point if parentheses or other syntax items are used correctly or spelling is correct.

Q: What does a proximity operator tell the database to do? Examples of proximity operators: global N4 warming, idaho N3 wildlife, tax W2 returns. Select the best answer that is always true.
- Find two keywords in records where they are close together.
- Find words with multiple endings in the database records.
- Replace one or zero letters of a word, so the database can find multiple spellings of that word.
- Find more results for you.
- Find fewer results for you.
A: Find two keywords in records where they are close together.