UA Online & Distance Learning

Picking the right databases can be tricky, but your librarian can help. Contact your liaison librarian and ask for advice. 

Nearly all databases/search engines include Boolean Operators. Understanding how they work is crucial to being an efficient searcher. 

AND:

• Narrows your search by combining two or more search terms.
• Example: Hypertension AND "DASH Diet" 
  • would retrieve articles about how the DASH diet can help to mitigate hypertension. 

OR: 

• Broadens your search by looking for either term. 
• Example: (Hypertension OR "high blood pressure") AND "DASH DIET" 
  • would retrieve articles about how the DASH diet can help to mitigate hypertension OR high blood pressure. 

NOT: 

• Narrows your search by specifically filtering out one (or more) search term
• Example: (Hypertension OR "high blood pressure") AND "DASH DIET" NOT diabetes 
  • ​​​​​​​would retrieve articles about how the DASH diet can help to mitigate hypertension OR high blood pressure (while ignoring articles that also mention diabetes).