Search Strategies Basics

When to use keywords, subject headings, phrases, single words?

This week's lesson was on the topic of how to search for information using basic strategies, like which terms to be used in order to get the broader result. Usually keywords are widely used when searching or brainstorming on some concerned topic. There is also the Subject headings which uses a standardized vocabulary, usually giving you more specific resources on your topic. Some examples are Library Subject headings, Science subject headings, Thesaurus of psychological index terms, etc.

Boolean Searching

Boolean operator or keywords

This searching allows you to group words together in an database or environment such as the World Wide Web to receive a number of different results. The results widely varies depending upon the grouping of the words. It is a common search strategy.
Boolean operators are words that connect a search that may add or subtract a concept to your search. It allows OR to expand or AND to limit our search. Most of the search engines allow the use of some Boolean searching.
Boolean queries- AND
It allows grouping of words for variety of results. For example, The query 'Beach AND California' produces results containing both words.

Boolean queries- OR
Using OR will broaden the search. The query 'Beach OR California' will yield results containing either the word beach or California. 

Boolean queries- NOT
NOT helps exclude words from the search. If a result has the word that you would like to search but it also contains another word you want to exclude, then it will not show that result.