Database Searching Tips Use Boolean Operators AND: Two keywords, terms, or concepts that must be together in the same source. Use this when you get too many results. Example: child AND abuse, Internet AND security OR: Two keywords, terms, or concepts that could be together in the same source, but only one might be in a particular source. Use this when you don't get enough results. Example: abuse OR batter; weightlifting OR bodybuilding NOT: Two keywords, terms, or concepts where one keyword, term, or concept cannot be in any source with the other one Use this when there is a particular type of result which you don't need. Example: abuse NOT sexual Search by One or More Fields Field searching allows you to look for your term in a specific section of the record. It is more precise than general keyword searching because it allows you to target your search and hopefully reduce the number of false hits you receive. Fields may include author, title, subject, journal title, abstract, or text, depending on the particular database. In the Field Search you can search one or more fields. The different fields are always combined with the boolean operator "AND", so that the search gets more specific the more fields you use. In most databases, you can combine multiple field searches in the advance search sreen and you can combine terms with drop-down lists, such as in the EBSCOhost databases: