Nesting
Boolean operators, synonyms, phrase searching, acronyms, truncation and wildcards can be combined using nesting techniques to create complex search strategies. Nesting can be a powerful tool if used correctly. The following research topic is considered:
The relationship between alcohol and youth crime
The main concepts are relatively straightforward to identify; alcohol, youths and crime. Using Boolean operators, phrase searching and synonyms, a complex nested search can be designed as follows:
alcohol AND (youth OR teenage OR "young people") AND (crime OR misdemeanour OR offen?e)
Another research topic is considered:
The use of multimedia technologies in higher education
A search for this topic can be designed as follows:
"multimedia technolog*" AND ("higher education" OR universit*)
In order to understand this search, each separate part is considered:
| Keyword | Result |
| "multimedia technolog*" | This is a phrase and a truncation. The expected result will be multimedia technology or multimedia technologies. |
| "higher education" | Straightforward phrase search; will return every instance of the phrase higher education |
| universit* | Truncation ensures that either university or universities are included in the results |
Nesting is an advanced and complex searching technique. If you are unsure how to construct a search then try and avoid it because you may miss results that are of relevance to you.
