1. Refining Internet and Database Searches Created by Kathryn Reilly

2. Refining Internet and Database Searches Both the internet and databases work on the same principles when returning search results. The search engines scan all websites or documents for the words entered into the search box. Knowing how to refine a search returns less or more results, depending on what the researcher wants. Refined searches also provide more accurate search returns.

3. Tricks to Refining Search Results Several tricks exist to assist the researcher in locating information online and in databases. – Apply Boolean search logic – Use key words and synonyms – Use quotation marks

4. Boolean Search Logic Boolean logic refers to combining specific words when searching to narrow or broaden the search results. The three most important words in Boolean search logic are: – and – or – not

5. Boolean Logic Searches: And Using and when searching reduces the number of results. For example, if the word “technology” is googled, 3,460,000,000 results are returned. However, if the words “technology and education” are googled, 1,760,000,000 results are returned. And should be used to narrow the results as the search engine only returns pages with both words.

6. Boolean Logic Searches: Or Using or when searching increases the number of results. Or instructs the search engine to find all websites with either of the words entered. When the words “technology or education” are entered into the search box, Google returns 8,340,000,000 results. Or should be used when the researcher is encountering difficulty finding enough sources.

7. Boolean Logic Searches: Not Using not when searching the internet and databases narrows the number of results. Not instructs the search engine to exclude any websites or documents with a certain word. For example, when the phrase “technology not education” is googled, 2,840,000,000 results are returned.

8. Using Key Words and Synonyms Many times different results will arrive with different key word searches. Researchers should brainstorm synonyms for key words to increase the number of relevant returned searches.

9. Using Key Words and Synonyms Let’s say the paper’s topic is education and technology. The obvious search phrase would be education and technology; however synonyms may broaden the researcher’s results. – Education and computers – Advances in Education – Education and the Digital age – Digital Education – Education and Apple/Dell

10. Using Quotation Marks Using quotation marks when searching instructs the search engine to return only websites and documents with those exact words. Quotation marks work best with phrases. For example, google Shakespeare’s wife and 675,000 results appear. However, put the phrase in quotation marks “Shakespeare’s wife”, and 57,200 results are returned. Without quotation marks, the search engine retrieves every website with the words Shakespeare’s and wife. Some websites may not discuss his wife, but a character’s wife. Those websites are eliminated with quotation marks.

11. Refining Internet and Database Searches Review Apply Boolean logic to broaden or narrow the search results. Brainstorm synonyms for key search terms. Enclose search phrases in quotation marks to increase accuracy and narrow search results.