Chapter 4

The search query

Chapter 1: Navigating Information Literacy 1

Learning outcomes
After reading this chapter, you should be able to answer the following questions:

• How do I identify concepts to represent my information need?

• How do I convert an information need into a query?

• How do I combine concepts, synonyms and alternative terms with Boolean operators?

• What are the differences between controlled vocabulary and natural language?

2
Representing and retrieving information
• Relevance

o Systems relevance: query (search string) matches

words in the document

o Topical relevance: ‘aboutness’ of query matches

the ‘aboutness’ of the document

• Connection between:

o creating and representing information

o seeking and retrieving information.

Chapter 4: The search query

Representing information

Steps in information creation

• Author creates a document

• Might be reviewed

• Document is published

o Full text and/or

o Metadata representation

qControlled vocabulary and/or

qNatural language.

Chapter 4: The search query

Natural language representation and
retrieval
• Documents on the web are usually uploaded as full-text documents.

• Search engines index almost all the words in the documents as they appear
(see Chapter 5).

• New developments in search engine (SE) technology allows natural

language queries.

• Still in its infancy.

Chapter 4: The search query 5

Structuring queries

Questions (information needs) are represented as queries.

How?

• What is it about?

• What are the broader issues?

• Which terms should I use?

• Which words did the author use?

• Other possible terms?

• How to handle phrases?

• How do I combine keywords?

Image credit: Rafal Olechowski. Shutterstock

Chapter 4: The search query 6

Determining search keywords

Example: Discuss the production and use of soap during the Roman era

• Identify topics or concepts.

• Identify singular and plural forms.

• Identify time periods.

• Identify required formats.

Image credit: http://www.soaphistory.net/

Chapter 4: The search query 7

Looking for a new tablet

Chapter 4: The search query 8

Start building the query

• Identify concepts

o IOS, Windows, HDMI, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi

• Synonyms, singular, plural

o HDMI = High Definition Multimedia Interface

• Time period

o Latest model 2021

• Required format

o Text, comparison tables, image of tablet, video

clip of unboxing?
Image credit: Aleksey Boldin. 123rf.com

Chapter 4: The search query 9

Information retrieval systems

• Two broad categories

o Boolean/exact match systems: query is compared to

document representation in an exact manner. Systems or
algorithmic relevance, document is measured as relevant
or not relevant.

o Best match systems: query is compared to document

representation in an approximate manner. Systems and
topical relevance, document may be partially relevant,
‘aboutness’ of document and query is similar.

• Web search engines: best match with a Boolean front end.

Chapter 4: The search query 10

Building a query

• Combining keywords

o Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT)

o Template technology

o Search engine mathematics

Important note:
These three methods are logically equivalent – you need to
formulate your query according to the search engine you are using.

Chapter 4: The search query 11

Boolean operators

• AND: all search terms in the query must be present.

• OR: any of the terms in the query may be present.

• NOT: used to exclude certain search terms from the query.

AND OR NOT

Chapter 4: The search query 12

Search engine mathematics

+ −

Chapter 4: The search query 13

Template terminology

Chapter 4: The search query 14

 Template terminology

Image credit: Equivalent Boolean operators in Google™’s Advanced Search interface. Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc.; used with permission.

Chapter 4: The search query 15

Truth tables

Table 4.5 Truth table representing pen AND pencil

pen pencil Pen AND pencil

True True True

True False False

False True False

False False False

Truth tables representing pen OR pencil and pen NOT pencil can be seen on page 39
of Navigating Information Literacy 6E

Chapter 4: The search query 16

Venn diagrams

Chapter 4: The search query 17

Operator precedence and nested searching

Chapter 4: The search query 18

Class activity

Chapter 4: The search query 19

How to construct a Boolean query

Chapter 4: The search query 20

Steps for constructing your query

• Step 1: Write each of your concept categories in its own column.

• Step 2: Synonyms or alternative forms and options should be

noted.

• Step 3: Indicate phrases by using inverted commas.

• Step 4: Indicate Boolean operators within each column.

• Step 5: Insert brackets around categories containing more than

one term.

• Step 6: Indicate Boolean operators between each category.

Chapter 4: The search query 21

Step 1
Write each of your concept categories in its own column.

Specifier Operating Port Connectivity

system

Tablet IOS HDMI Wi-Fi

Windows Bluetooth

Chapter 4: The search query 22

Step 2
Synonyms or alternative forms and options should be noted.

Specifier Operating Port Connectivity

system

Tablet IOS HDMI Wi-Fi

Windows high definition Bluetooth
multimedia
interface

Chapter 4: The search query 23

Step 3
Indicate phrases by using inverted commas.

Specifier Operating Port Connectivity

system

Tablet IOS HDMI “Wi-Fi”

Windows “high definition Bluetooth
multimedia
interface”

Chapter 4: The search query 24

Step 4
Indicate Boolean operators within each column.

Specifier Operating Port Connectivity

system

Tablet IOS OR HDMI OR “Wi-Fi” AND

Windows “high definition Bluetooth
multimedia
interface”

Chapter 4: The search query 25

Step 5
Insert brackets around categories containing more than one term.

Specifier Operating Port Connectivity

system

Tablet (IOS OR (HDMI OR (“Wi-Fi” AND

Windows) “high definition Bluetooth)
multimedia
interface”)

Chapter 4: The search query 26

 Step 6

Indicate Boolean operators between each category.

Tablet AND (IOS OR Windows) AND (HDMI OR “high definition

multimedia interface”) AND (“Wi-Fi” AND Bluetooth)

Chapter 4: The search query 27

Summary

In this chapter, you have learned the following:

• Documents can be represented in different ways, and that it is

important to understand the principles of representation in order
to retrieve documents.

• You looked at several examples of information needs where it is

necessary first to identify the underlying concepts before you
can use Boolean logic to construct a query.

• You also looked at various ways in which search engines

support Boolean logic, either through the use of Boolean
operators or by using search engine mathematics.

Chapter 4: The search query 28