Florida State University College of Law Research Center Database Searching: Super Searching Techniques Elizabeth Farrell FSU College of Law Research Center February, 2008

Florida State University College of Law Research Center Designing Better Searches WHY? –Well crafted searches = more precise –Better Results, Higher Confidence The Good & Bad News –Good: Robust, sophisticated search engines in many commercial databases –Bad: Fewer features and some limitations for web search engines

Florida State University College of Law Research Center Why Super-Searchers Prefer Terms & Connectors High level of search precision High confidence in search results Lots of control over search input

Florida State University College of Law Research Center Using 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

Florida State University College of Law Research Center 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

Florida State University College of Law Research Center Step 1: Gather Enough Information What are you trying to find? –Jurisdiction –Types of materials Is a database search the best option?

Florida State University College of Law Research Center 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

Florida State University College of Law Research Center Step 3: Determine Key Search Terms A well-framed issue will usually make the key search terms easy to see. Examples: Elements required to prove malice Relied on a misrepresentation of the facts

Florida State University College of Law Research Center 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

Florida State University College of Law Research Center 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

Florida State University College of Law Research Center 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

Florida State University College of Law Research Center 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

Florida State University College of Law Research Center Step 7: Use Advanced Boolean Features Specify… Singular/plural word forms Upper/lowercase characters Number of times a word/phrase appears Terms to exclude

Florida State University College of Law Research Center Searching Outside Lexis & Westlaw Other subscription databases (BNA, CCH, Hein) –Many have boolean and/or advanced search capabilities – use them! –Syntax may vary slightly, but the principles are the same. Internet Search Engines –Understand the content and searching limitations –Explore advanced search features (if available).

Florida State University College of Law Research Center Questions?