1. Database Searching

2. The Basics Select a research topic Develop a list of keywords Databases are literal – if you type in a phrase it will search for the phrase world war ii soldiers For more flexibility, use Boolean operators/connectors

3. Boolean Searching Use Boolean operators/connectors to tell the database which results you need. AND, OR, and NOT Use Boolean operators to connect your keywords together.

4. Topic: African American soldiers in World World II

5. Boolean – AND Narrows your search. Records must include all of the combined terms. african americans and world war ii

6. Boolean – OR Broadens your search Records include at least 1 of the terms. Generally used to combine synonyms, related terms, alternate spellings, and acronyms african americans or negroes

7. Combining Boolean operators (african americans or negroes) and world war ii

8. Truncation / wildcard Search for several words with the same root by entering each word connected with OR or by truncating the word. Helps retrieve singular and plural forms of words black* finds black, blacks The truncation symbol acts as an OR: black OR blacks Check the database to determine the appropriate truncation symbol (? OR * OR !)

9. Developing a search statement Topic: media during the world war ii

10. TOPIC: Media during the world war ii Key Concepts Synonyms Related terms: People Places Events Dates Organizations An encyclopedia or google may be helpful in identifying these terms. Developing a search statement

11. Example Media during the world war ii media world war ii press newspapers journalism radio World war ii world war 1939 1945 Edward R. Murrow Ernie Pyle Stars and Stripes Walter Cronkite Claire Booth Luce Robert Sherrod Correspondents Journalists Life magazine New York Times Related Terms: Found in Encyclopedia of the World War II and via google

12. Search Statements Type keywords / key concepts / key phrases linked by Boolean connectors into databases:  media AND world war ii  (radio OR broadcast* OR journalism) AND (world war ii OR world war 1939 1945)  (murrow OR luce) AND (world war ii OR world war 1939 1945)