Advanced Searches Quiz

True or False: If you use AND in a search, you'll find more references and results

• True

• False

Answer explanation

'AND' excludes references that do not contain both words, so it's more likely that you'll get fewer references and sources, not more!

True or False: If you use OR in a search, you are likely to find additional references

• True

• False

Answer explanation

'OR' searches for pages that contain one or more of your search words.

A search for car OR bicycle will return pages that include only cars, only bicycles or a mixture of both

Which Search String would give the most results?

• global OR world

• global AND world

• global NOT world

Which search instruction would find the fewest items

• Graphic OR design

• (graphic OR design)

• "graphic design"

Answer explanation

Using "quotation marks" around your search phrase will only return sources which match the exact phrase.

How could you enter the keyword 'design' to find references to 'designs' and 'designers' as well?

Answer explanation

using 'Design*' would find design, designers and designs, but would also find irrelevant entries such as designate, so you'd have to be careful and pick through your results carefully

Which search function would be the most effective to find references to the impact of global design trends on designers?

• global AND design AND trend

• global? AND (design* AND trend?)

• global* OR (design AND trend)

Answer explanation

Option B focuses on relevant items, but looks for alternatives such as world, designers and designs.

A might narrow your search too far, and C might include too many irrelevant answers like global warming, globalisation or local design, but you might miss references to designers.