In APA formatting, writers provide a brief citation that consists of the last name of the source's author followed by the year of publication, in brackets, at the end of the material referenced to that source. APA style also requires a separate reference list where a writer details the publication information for each source she consulted.
Boolean searching, on the other hand, uses a system of symbols, such as "+" and "--" signs, to narrow search results in a search engine. Placing a "+" between two words, such as "Niagara + Falls," results in the search producing pages that include both of those words together, rather than pages that contain just "Niagara" or just "Falls." A "--" sign informs the search engine not to include pages that contain the word following the sign. The help section on a search engine's website explains if the search engine understands Boolean operators.
Because Boolean operators help writers narrow their searches and produce more relevant results, Boolean searching is an effective tool for writers using APA. Writers in the social sciences looking for specific studies and data that are difficult to locate will find Boolean operators helpful. For example, a writer who wishes to write a paper about societal effects of terrorism in countries other than the United States may wish to use the "-" sign in front of "United States" or "9/11" to eliminate sites that discuss these world-renowned events.
Boolean logic is only a preliminary research tool. APA formatting does not require writers to cite the use of Boolean operators. Therefore, writers of APA do not have to keep track of, record or indicate anywhere in their notes or final paper any uses of Boolean operators in their research. APA began promoting the use of Boolean searching in 1999, but it does not require it. Furthermore, as Boolean searching is only relevant for electronic research, it is not relevant when researching print material.