Question

The RDS is broken down into functional areas which makes the search process a bit easier, which search method is this?

1) Keyword search
2) Boolean search
3) Natural language search
4) Advanced search

Answer 1

The Boolean search method, which uses Boolean operators like AND, OR, and NOT, helps to refine and focus searches in the RDS by linking, expanding, or excluding search terms respectively.

Step-by-step explanation:

The search method that uses functional areas for easier searching within the RDS (Research Database System) is the Boolean search. This method employs Boolean operators to refine and focus search results, improving the ability to find relevant information efficiently. The three fundamental operators are AND, OR, and NOT.

• AND helps to link essential pieces of information and narrows the search by including only results that contain all the specified terms.
• OR expands the search to include results that contain any of the specified terms.
• NOT excludes results containing the specified terms, helping to eliminate irrelevant information.

Using Boolean operators enhances the search experience, as it allows you to combine keywords in a logical manner. For instance, a search string like 'artificial intelligence (title) AND Buiten (author) AND 2019 (year)' would provide a concise and specific result, possibly leading you to the exact journal source needed.