Search statements

What are search statements

Have you heard of Boolean operators AND, OR and NOT? Why are there quotation marks in a search statement? And what do you do with an asterisk? Next, let's learn how to form search statements!

Search terms are combined into a search statement. A search statement is not an actual sentence, but a search presented in a form understood by the database. You need to be able to tell the database what you want to find: what kind of matches, what concepts can be alternatives, and how accurately the concept should be found.

On Google, we are used to typing a question in the search box, for example, but scientific databases are more specific. In other words, you don't usually search by typing your own topic as such in the search box.

As discussed in the previous section Search terms, break down your topic into parts. Come up with synonyms for key concepts. Leave out words like effects and meaning.

For example, a search statement about the effects of globalization on tourism:
Search terms:
– globalization, globalisation, internationalisation,
– tourism, travel
Search statement:
(globali* OR internationali*) AND (tourism OR travel)

As another example, a search statement for co-teaching mathematics could be like this:

("joint teaching" OR teacher collaboration OR teacher cooperation) AND mathematic*

How to create a search statement

The search statement is formed using

Operators AND and OR. It is good to write them in capital letters. For example pets OR domesticated animals.
Quotation marks can be used to find exact matches. For example "physical activity".
A truncation mark can be used to cut a word, so that different forms of the word are included in the search. For example teach*

Databases usually have an Advanced search option. It is worth using. There are usually two search boxes and they are connected by AND operator. This is a good starting point:

you can put the first point of view of your topic in one search box and type synonyms in the box one after the other (in the example search, you would put "joint teaching" OR teacher collaboration OR teacher cooperation in the search box).
In the next box, you can enter another aspect of your topic (the word mathematic* in the example search). And again, you can list synonyms or alternative concepts, if need be.

The search box is often followed by a drop-down menu where you can choose where the database looks for matches. If you select Abstract, the database searches for articles in which your search terms appear in the abstract. It is often a good idea to start with the default settings and narrow down if necessary.

Search terms are broken down for searches. Use operators between search terms.

AND combines
OR more options
NOT omitted

For example, the search statement leadership OR management searches for articles that mention either of these words, i.e. leadership or management. So at least one of these words is included in the search results.

A OR B retrieves references that contain either the search term A or B, or both. For example, the OR operator is used to combine synonyms for words and broader and narrower terms. OR operator increases coverage.
A AND B retrieves references that contain both the search term A and B. The AND operator is used when, for example, you want to combine two different topics in a search. AND operator increases the accuracy.
A NOT B retrieves references that contain A but excludes B – also references that contain both A and B are excluded. NOT operator can prohibit the appearance of a term in the search. NOT operator increases the accuracy. Not found in all databases.

Boolen operaattoreiden toiminta: ORoperaattoria käytetään esimerkiksi sanojen synonyymien yhdistämiseen, ANDoperaattoria käytetään, kun halutaan esimerkiksi yhdistää haussa kaksi eri aihepiiriä ja NOToperaattorilla voi kieltää jonkun termin esiintymisen haussa.

Use quotation marks when you want an exact match. You'll get search results that contain search terms in exactly the order, format, and spelling you typed. Use quotation marks if:

It is a multi-part established concept, e.g. "climate change"

Warning: don't search too precisely! Quotation marks should usually be omitted if:

The word has different spellings, e.g. well-being or wellbeing
The word may be inflected in different forms, and the exact wording is not essential, e.g. engage, engagement, engaging

It is usually not necessary to put quotation marks around a single word, although in JYKDOK it can be useful.

In general, it is necessary to try different combinations. Choose a database and try combining search terms in different ways. Think about which words should be cut off. Do you have an established concept where you should use quotation marks? Which synonyms or alternative words could you include in your search?

How precisely do you build your search? Do you make many boxes with options or a few boxes with main points of view with synonyms?

The examples on this page usually work in different databases. There are some exceptions, so if the search results look funny, you should take a look at the database's own instructions!

You can also ask generative AI chatbots to create an initial search statement for you or ask the chat for tips on improving a statement you have created yourself. Read more about this on the website: AI tools for brainstorming.

Examples of search statements

Search statement for outsourcing financial management:

(”management accounting” OR ”financial administration”) AND outsourc*

Search statement for advertising in mobile games:

("mobile advertising" OR ad targeting OR target* ads OR in-game advertising) AND "mobile games"

Health sciences and search statements

In some fields of science, search statements are formed according to the discipline's own exact practices. As a rule, this is the case in health sciences. .

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