ACM Digital Library

You can edit the syntax of your search to use Boolean searching more flexibly, such as searching multiple fields in one search string.

To edit your search:

• Click the 'Edit Search' button next to the number of results on the Search Results page.
• This will take you back to the search interface page. Scroll down to the 'View Query Syntax' section and click the down arrow to expand it.
• Click in the 'Edit Query' box to modify the search, for example, changing AND to OR.

When conducting a systematic search, you may be required to search the Title and Abstract field simultaneously.

Watch the video below to learn more: 

Alternatively, refer to the written instructions below: 

• On the Advanced Search screen, create two identical search strings on separate rows. Select the Title field for the first row and the Abstract field for the second row.  You can use Boolean AND and OR and parentheses to search (see Compiling a search string in our searching guide). 
• Click the Search button. 
• ACM Digital Library automatically connects rows with AND, meaning your results will only include information with queried terms in both the title and abstract. 

• To rectify this, click the "Edit Query" button to the immediate right of your search query on the results page.
• You will return to the advanced search page. Scroll to the bottom of the page to the View Query Syntax box, and click the downward arrow to expand. 
• In the Edit Query box, identify the AND operator connecting your two search strings. 
• Change the AND operator to OR.
• Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Search to rerun your query. You should notice that your total number of results have increased. 

The search operators AND and OR are used in searching to combine search terms together.

AND retrieves articles which contain all of your concepts. For example, if you are interested in the use of cognitive behaviour therapy for gambling disorders, you would search for cognitive behaviour therapy AND gambling.

OR retrieves records which contain any of your concepts. For example, you might search for cognitive behaviour therapy OR CBT to retrieve all articles on the topic.