Effective Database Searching Methods and Techniques
Explore the world of effective database searching through terms and connectors, natural language queries, and strategies for deciding which method to use. Discover ways to design efficient searches, understand Boolean searching, and choose between natural language and terms & connectors based on your research needs.
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Effective Database Searching Created by Elizabeth Farrell, Florida State University College of Law Licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 License.
Effective Database Searching Search Methods: Terms & Connectors (Boolean) searching Natural Language searching How to decide which method to use. How to design an effective search.
Natural Language Plain English style search, similar to a google search Enter in keywords, phrases, sentences or questions Limited number of results (100-250) Results ranked by relevancy Not an excuse for sloppy/lazy searches!
Terms & Connectors Also known as Boolean searching Uses connectors like OR, AND, NOT between search terms Can specify: mandatory terms alternate terms terms to exclude terms in specific parts of the document terms appearing X times terms within a certain proximity of other terms
2 Ways to Think About Terms & Connectors Algebra Remember functions like this? (a + b) x (c d) (dog OR cat OR animal) AND (bite OR attack) Venn Diagrams intent AND slander OR libel OR defame
Which to Choose Natural Language Unfamiliar with the issue s key terms & vocabulary You don t need an exhaustive list of sources Need a starting point for research Terms & Connectors Familiar with the issue s key terms & vocabulary You want to check all potentially relevant results Essential for pre-emption checks!
Super Searchers Prefer Terms & Connectors High level of search precision High confidence in search results Lots of control over search input
ResponseWare Login ResponseWare Web Address: http://www.rwpoll.com/ Session ID: XXXX
After this class, I will be a pro at terms & connectors searching. 1. True 2. False 0% 0% 1 2
Designing an Effective Search Step by Step Step 1: Gather Enough Information Step 2: Frame and Articulate the Issue Step 3: Determine Key Search Terms Step 4: Add Alternate Terms Step 5: Determine Relationships between Terms Step 6: Use Fields/Segments to Add Precision Step 7: Use Advanced Boolean Features
Step 1: Gather Enough Information What are you trying to find? Jurisdiction Types of materials Is a database search the best option?
Step 1: Gather Enough Information Scenario: Your client is opening a restaurant and asks for your firm s assistance in making sure he complies with all the necessary laws. What possible areas of law might this include?
Step 2: Frame and Articulate the Issue Consider The information as if you were briefing a case Searching the opposite side of the issue Imagining how the ideal document might discuss the issue
Step 2: Frame and Articulate the Issue Scenario: In the spring, while at a book signing event in Minneapolis, Newt Gingrich was unsuspectingly glitter bombed by an individual who attended the event. The NY Times and the ABA Journal have recently run stories stating that Mr. Gingrich believe this type of protest is illegal and the Prosecutor in Minneapolis is feeling the pressure to look into charging the protestor. You ve been tasked with researching the whether charges can be brought.
Step 3: Determine Key Search Terms A well-framed issue will usually make the key search terms easy to see. Example: Can glitter bombing be a touch for a battery claim? Was there a reliance on a misrepresentation of the facts?
Step 3: Determine Key Search Terms Good search terms Carry meaning Are essential to the issue Be cautious of Superfluous or incidental terms Alternate phrasing
Is name-calling alone sufficient to create a hostile work environment under the Americans with Disabilities Act? 1. name-calling 2. alone 3. sufficient 4. create 5. Hostile work environment 6. Americans with Disabilities Act 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1 2 3 4 5 6
Can a Florida homeowners association restrict its members from installing satellite dishes or HAM radio antennas on their home or on their property? 1. Florida 2. Homeowner s association 3. restrict 4. member 5. install 6. Satellite dish 7. HAM radio antenna 8. home 9. property 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Step 4: Add Alternate Terms Synonyms are critical to good searches damag! or destroy! or total! w/10 car or automobile or vehicle Antonyms can also be helpful admit! or admiss! or inadmiss! or relevan! or irrelevan! w/5 evidence
Is it ethical for a Florida attorney to outsource some paralegal duties to an overseas provider? 1. ethical 2. Florida 3. attorney 4. outsource 5. paralegal 6. duties 7. overseas 8. provider 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Designing an Effective Search Step by Step Step 1: Gather Enough Information Step 2: Frame and Articulate the Issue Step 3: Determine Key Search Terms Step 4: Add Alternate Terms Step 5: Determine Relationships between Terms Step 6: Use Fields/Segments to Add Precision Step 7: Use Advanced Boolean Features
Step 5: Determine Relationships between Terms The purpose of connectors is to show the desired relationships between terms. Examples: fraud AND insurance tax! w/3 income damages w/25 negligen! res judicata
Issue: school prayer Select the best search: 1. school prayer 2. school AND pray! 3. school W/5 pray! 4. school OR pray! 25% 25% 25% 25% 1 2 3 4
Issue: Good Samaritan Defense Select the best search: 1. good samaritan W/S defense 25% 25% 25% 25% 2. good AND samaritan AND defense 3. good samaritan defense 4. good OR samaritan AND defense 1 2 3 4
Issue: Evidence obtained from a sniffer dog Select the best search: 1. evidence AND sniff! OR smell OR scent w/20 dog OR canine 25% 25% 25% 25% 2. evidence w/20 sniff! OR smell OR scent AND dog OR canine 3. evidence w/20 sniffer dog 4. evidence AND dog OR canine 1 2 3 4
Scenario: You represent a family with a baby daughter, Jane, in a malpractice suit. During her birth, Jane contracted an infection. Jane exhibited symptoms of infection, but the attending physicians failed to diagnose and treat the infection. A routine course of antibiotics would have cured the infection, but instead the infection worsened and left Jane with severely diminished eyesight.
Step 6: Use Fields/Segments to Add Precision Online documents are divided up into searchable segments (or fields). Users can specify where within a document a term should appear. judges(o'connor) and court(eighth circuit) and drugs or narcotics
Find opinions authored by Chief Judge Linda Ann Wells of the Third DCA 33% 33% 33% 1. judge wells AND third DCA 2. ju(wells) AND ci(third district) 3. ju(wells) & pr(third) 1 2 3
Step 7: Use Advanced Boolean Features Specify Singular/plural word forms Upper/lowercase characters Number of times a word/phrase appears Terms to exclude
