Scholarly research is essential in medical writing. Using evidence-based information, we can back up our claims with reliable scientific evidence when creating our content.
Finding scholarly articles can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, especially with the vast amount of information available online. However, there are strategies that health writers can employ to search and retrieve the information they need effectively.
This article aims to provide valuable insights and strategies for health writers to search for and find high-quality research, credible sources, scholarly articles, and details on how to use a Boolean search. By following these guidelines, you can enhance your writing business by delivering accurate, well-researched, and authoritative health content.
By following these steps and critical thinking, medical writers can easily search for and find quality research, credible sources, and scholarly articles for their health writing business. Doing so will help ensure that their content is accurate and trustworthy.
Boolean searches are a powerful and efficient way to navigate through the vast ocean of information available on the internet. By utilizing Boolean operators such as AND, OR, and NOT, search engines allow users to refine their queries and obtain more precise search results.
Whether you are a student conducting research, a professional seeking specific information, or simply looking for relevant content, understanding how to use Boolean searches effectively can greatly enhance your online search experience. The Boolean operators can combine or exclude search terms, allowing users to specify the relationships between different keywords in their search queries.
Boolean operators are not treated equally, with “AND” being prioritized over “NOT” and “NOT” being prioritized over “OR”. This means that the search engine will first retrieve results that satisfy the “AND” conditions, then exclude results that satisfy the “NOT” conditions, and finally retrieve results that satisfy the “OR” conditions.
Boolean search operators with examples:
Boolean Operator |
Explanation |
Example |
AND |
All words must be present in the search |
Atrial fibrillation AND telemedicine |
OR |
Results can include any of the words |
Telemedicine OR mobile health |
NOT |
Results include everything but the term that follows the operator |
Diet NOT paleo |
Boolean operators must be in all uppercase letters for the search engine to understand them as an operator and not a regular word.
Boolean searches and the use of “AND,” “OR,” and “NOT” operators can be valuable for refining search queries and obtaining more accurate search results. While many users do not take advantage of these operators, understanding how they are processed by search engines and using embedded Boolean search hints can help improve the precision of search queries.
Now that you understand the basics of Boolean operators, it’s time to take your searching skills to the next level.
One way to refine your search is to combine AND, OR, and NOT in a single search query. For example, if you’re looking for a hotel in Paris that is NOT too expensive and either has a pool OR a gym, your search query could be: “Paris hotel NOT expensive AND (pool OR gym).” It’s like asking for a fancy hotel with all the amenities but without breaking the bank.
Advanced Techniques
Additional advanced techniques can be utilized to refine your search:
1. Quotation marks are used to search for exact phrases. For example, if you’re searching for information on “healthy eating,” using quotation marks ensures that the search engine finds results with that specific phrase rather than just individual words.
2. Parentheses can group expressions. Parentheses are not just for mathematical equations – they can also work wonders in Boolean searches. When you have multiple operators in a query, using parentheses helps you group expressions and control their interactions.
For example, if you’re searching for articles about cats and dogs, but you want to exclude anything related to “funny videos,” you can use parentheses to clarify your intent. Your query would look like this: “(cats AND dogs) NOT funny videos.” This way, the search engine knows exactly what you’re looking for and what to exclude.
Use wildcards and truncation in Boolean searches. Sometimes, you need to embrace the element of surprise in your searches. Wildcards and truncation come to the rescue when unsure about specific words or variations.
3. Wildcards are represented by an asterisk (*) and can replace unknown words or parts of words. For example, if you’re searching for a song but are unsure about the lyrics, you can search for “love * away.” The search engine will then try to fill in the wildcard with various words, giving you a wider range of results.
4. Truncation is similar to a wildcard, but it only replaces the ending of a word. By using a truncation symbol (usually an asterisk), you can search for multiple forms of a word. For example, if you’re looking for articles about cats but you’re open to different variations like “cat,” “cats,” or even “catty,” you can search for “cat*.” The search engine will then find results that include all word variations.
You are now armed with the knowledge and skills to conquer the vast realm of a high-quality search. By utilizing creative and advanced techniques, you can take your searching prowess to new heights.