Boolean Logic

1
Boolean Logic
Combining Searches in a Database
Well start out with a subject search on
electronic commerce
2
Too Many Records--Need to Narrow Search
This search needs to be narrowed. We need to add
another topic. Its not practical to skim so
many citations. Plus with this much information
your paper/report wouldnt have much focus
3
Add Topic Automobile industry
Lets add another topic to our research the
automobile industry. By itself this subject
heading retrieves 17108 citations. What
were ultimately looking for is the use of
electronic commerce in the automobile industry.
4
Combine Both Topics
We use AND to combine both our topics
5
AND Narrows Records Retrieved
The combination (or intersection) of these topics
equals 110 records.
6
Look at Listing of Subject Headings
You can see both subject headings listed here.
7
Combine Search Topic with a Specific Journal
Combining your search topic with articles from a
particular journal is also a useful technique.
You can restrict your search this way to
journals that you know are in Feinberg Library.
Try to figure out the field name that a database
uses to indicate journal name. In this
database its source.
8
Search Restricted to One Journal
You can see all these articles are from the
journal Harvard Business Review
9
Two Topics in a Specific Journal
In this search were combining the topics hotels
and motels with cost control. We use another AND
to combine it with Cornell Hotel and Restaurant
Administration Quarterly.
10
Search Results
You can see these articles include both our
subjects and are in the journal we specified.
11
Lexis-Nexis Basics

• Lexis-Nexis is a full-text database
• This database doesnt use controlled vocabulary
• This database doesnt have keyword or subject
  heading searching
• If you search using the basic search your
  search will search through the full text
• If youre not careful, you will retrieve too many
  records

12
Guided Search in Lexis-Nexis

• This option allows you to search for you words in
  only the headline or headline and first paragraph
• This allows you to be more precise
• Guided search allows you to avoid searching
  through the full-text

13
Guided Search
Click this tab
14
Guided Search
You can restrict you search to Headline or
Headline and Lead Paragraph. Also note date of
publication or journal name options.
15
Search Results
Look for Internet Banking and security in the
records.
16
Other Info in Lexis-Nexis

• Dont forget to look at the other parts of the
  Lexis-Nexis business database such as
• Company Financial
• SEC Filings and Reports
• Industry and Market
• Some of these areas will be useful for your Final
  Project