Work

The Boolean is Dead, Long Live the Boolean! Natural Language versus Boolean Searching in Introductory Undergraduate Instruction

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Boolean logic can be a difficult concept for first‐year, introductory students to grasp. This paper compares the results of Boolean and natural language searching across several databases with searches created from student research questions. Performance differences between databases varied. Overall, natural search language is at least as good as Boolean searching. With evidence that students struggle to grasp Boolean searching, and may not use it even after instruction, it could be left out of first‐year instruction, freeing up valuable class time to focus on concepts such as question development and source evaluation. As the Framework for Information Literary does not specifically address Boolean operators, the authors suggest it should have less prominence in first‐year Information Literacy instruction.

Source: College & Research Libraries

DOI: 10.5860/crl.79.4.517

Authors: M. Lowe, Bronwen Maxson, Sean Stone, Willie Miller, Eric Snajdr, Kathleen Hanna

Institutions: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado System, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana University

Language: English

Topic: Library Science and Information Literacy

Subfield: Library and Information Sciences

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W2754570819

FWCI: 9.71

Cites: 65

Cited by: 14

Related to: 10