1. Part 1: Boolean algebra & Venn diagrams Part 2: Starting Scopus
Guide to exercise 4
Part 1: Boolean algebra & Venn diagrams
Part 2: Starting Scopus
Tefko Saracevic

2. Part 1 Boolean algebra and Venn diagrams
For practice; nothing to deliver; solution to the riddle on page 9 can be brought up in discussion
© Tefko Saracevic

3. Definitions Boolean algebra Venn diagrams
Algebra that operates on sets
unlike the regular algebra that operates on numbers
but has a similar basic operations
It has 4 basic operations
unary: single set A
intersection: A AND B
union: A OR B
negation: A NOT B
These can be combined
Pictorial representations for Boolean algebra operations
Useful to envision or represent sets to be retrieved
e.g. : Venn diagram for A AND B is shaded area:
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4. Boolean algebra: why important?
It is an algebra with well defined formalism & widely used in many domains and for many applications
Also used as a basis for computing
Since computers operate on sets, it was adapted for use in searching for documents (and other information objects)
In searching we ask a computer to look for sets of documents that have various combinations of terms or other attributes
Thus searches have to follow rules of Boolean algebra
advance searches can exploit capabilities of this algebra to pursue more effective searching, particularly in complex searches
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5. Use of Venn diagrams
This is a Venn diagram with numbered sets; on next pages also with a number of search statements
use to shade sets obtained for given operations
for each statement shade the appropriate set or sets
e.g. for A AND B the sets are 2, 5
for (A OR B) AND C the sets are 4, 5, 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 A B C
© Tefko Saracevic

6. For practice on exercises on following slides1 2 3 4 5 6 7 A B C
Tefko Saracevic

7. But watch out A AND B OR C Thus it has to be either
cannot be computed any more than x 4 can
because (2 + 3) x 4 gets different results than 2 + (3 x 4)
Thus it has to be either
(A AND B) OR C or
A AND (B OR C)
each results in different sets: first: 2,5,4,6,7 second: 2,4,5
Shade them on the Venn diagram 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 A B C
© Tefko Saracevic

8. Exercise – shade these sets (answers on the next slide)
1. A AND B
2. A OR B
3. A OR B AND C
4. (A OR B) AND C
5. A AND B NOT C
6. A AND (B NOT C)
7. (A AND B) NOT C
8. (A NOT B) AND C
9. A NOT (B AND C)
10. A NOT B AND C
11. A AND (B OR C)
12. A AND B OR C
13. A OR (B AND C)
14. A OR B OR C
15 A AND B AND C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 A B C
© Tefko Saracevic

9. Here are the answers … but one of them is wrong. Which one?
1. A AND B 2,5
2. A OR B 1,2,3,4,5,6
3. A OR B AND C 1,2,4,5,6
4. (A OR B) AND C 4,5,6
5. A AND B NOT C 2
6. A AND (B NOT C) 2
7. (A AND B) NOT C 2
8. (A NOT B) AND C 4
9. A NOT (B AND C) 6
10. A NOT B AND C 4
11. A AND (B OR C) 2,4,5
12. A AND B OR C 2,4,5,6,7
13. A OR (B AND C) 1,2,4,5,6
14. A OR B OR C 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
15 A AND B AND C 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 A B C
© Tefko Saracevic

10. From: angelfire.com now deceased; taken over by lycos, now at
Well…
Also a Venn diagram
From: angelfire.com now deceased; taken over by lycos, now at
© Tefko Saracevic

11. This Venn diagram is color-coded in order to demonstrate the way in which the layers overlap--if you are not familiar with the way colors are mixed subtractively just enjoy all the pretty colors. Not all Venn diagrams are color-coded.
Each circle is clearly labeled with the name of a character in bold letters. The qualities of that character are then written in that circle.
Some qualities are in an area where two circles overlap because both characters share those qualities. For instance, both the Tazmanian Devil and Wile E. Coyote are mammals, so "mammal" goes in the purple area where the circles of the two characters overlap.
In the center, all the circles overlap; qualities in this area this are shared by all three characters. For instance, Elmer Fudd, Wile E. Coyote, and the Tazmanian Devil were all in the movie Space Jam, so "Space Jam is written in the area where all the circles overlap.
Explanation:
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12. Introduction to Scopus
Part 2
Introduction to Scopus
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13. Comparison Dialog Scopus
Many databases; selection which to search needed
Much more content overall
Mostly command driven
limited menu possibilities
A lot of field options by command
Not really transparent
Unwieldy
One database; selection as to areas to limit
Menu driven
but commands executed & shown, could be manipulated
Many more options on fields, sources, outputs, saves …
Author, sources elaboration
citation tracking
Much more transparent
Wieldy
© Tefko Saracevic

14. Opening screen: examine choices
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15. First search – same topic as in Dialog but some limits
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16. Result page: examine for further choices in refining query Your query shows what fields were generated for your query
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17. Results: examine for choices and refinements; note that you can download selected documents or click to show Abstract
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18. Click on one of the articles retrieved Results: examine for options
Click on one of the articles retrieved Results: examine for options. Follow up some e.g. journals In output you can get a full citation for bibliography
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19. Journal: examine various options
Journal: examine various options. We will deal with journal analyzer and citation tracker in unit 9
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20. References, keywords in the article for further examination
© Tefko Saracevic