Introduction to Boolean Searching - PowerPoint Presentation

1. Introduction to Boolean Searchingfind your winning argument faster

2. Before we begin:index vs. full-textIndexed DatabasesSearch based on subject matter or conceptLike digest searchesGo to “Landlords” section, then look up caseInformation already pre-sorted into categoriesIf information isn’t in the category, you would miss itFull-Text DatabasesSearch based on individual wordsLike a Google searchType in landlordUser specifies search termsSearch not limited to someone else’s categorization2Introduction to Boolean Searching

3. Yahoo search circa 1998Example of an indexed search database.3Introduction to Boolean Searching

4. Google search circa 2016Example of a full-text database4Introduction to Boolean Searching

5. Before we begin: boolean vs. natural language5Introduction to Boolean Searching

6. Before we begin: know the scopeKnow the scope of what you’re searching (the “corpus”) so you aren’t guessing what’s in the database. www.fastcase.com/coverage6Introduction to Boolean Searching

7. Two things to keep in mindSynonymyAmbiguityWords that can mean more than one thingAvoid ambiguity by adding terms or the “not” operatorEx: Negligence not criminalWords that can mean the same thingUse synonyms for better resultsEx. Car, vehicle, truck, van, automobile7Introduction to Boolean Searching

8. Search processA good search is like a dance — general steps you follow with added flourish to impress peopleLegal Research Dance8Introduction to Boolean Searching

9. Laying the groundwork9Introduction to Boolean Searching

10. 10Introduction to Boolean Searching

11. Boolean Searches11Fastcase CLE 2019

12. Fastcase boolean operatorsOperatorExampleDescriptionAND, &libel AND damagesResults must contain both “libel” and “damages”ORpremarital OR prenuptialResults must contain either “premarital” or “prenuptial”NOTnegligence NOT criminalResults must contain “negligence” but not the word “criminal”w/3, /3custody /15 interrogationResults must contain “custody” within 15 words of “interrogation.”*, !testif*Results must contain some variation of the stem “testif” such as testified, testify, testifying, etc.?mari?uanaResults must contain m-a-r-i-_-u-a-n-a with any letter substituted for the question mark“ ”“estate tax”Results must contain the exact phrase “estate tax”( )(confront OR cross-examine)Parentheses tells Fastcase to do the operations contained within it before doing things outside12Introduction to Boolean Searching

13. AND — dog AND biteOnly returns cases at the intersection — ones containing both the words “dog” and “bite.”Dog AND bite13Introduction to Boolean Searching

14. OR — car OR vehicleReturns all cases around the perimeter of the two words — either those using the word “car” or the word “vehicle.”CarANDVehiclecar OR vehicle14Introduction to Boolean Searching

15. NOT — speech NOT schoolOnly returns cases mentioning “speech” without referencing the word “school.”SpeechSchoolspeech NOT school15Introduction to Boolean Searching

16. speech NOT (school OR political)Only returns cases mentioning “speech,” but not mentioning “school” or “political.”SpeechSchoolPoliticalspeech NOT (school OR political)school OR political16Introduction to Boolean Searching

17. speech AND public NOT (school OR political)The cases returned will use both the words “speech” and “public” but won’t use either the words “political” or “school.”SpeechSchoolPublic(speech AND public) NOT (school OR political)Political17Introduction to Boolean Searching

18. Proximity or within — w/# or /#Sample Matches:in-custody interrogation of a suspect . . . . (w/1 matches.)unless in-custody police interrogation is . . . . (w/2 matches.)interrogation while in custody may give . . . . (w/3 matches.)when in custody for purposes of interrogation . . . . (w/4 matches.)custody /5 interrogation — return cases where custody appears within 5 words of interrogation 18Introduction to Boolean Searching

19. “Quotation marks”Sample Matches:. . . that the marital privilege encompassed within the same statute precludes . . . . . . regardless, the marital privilege is not applicable here because Mr. and Mrs. Irons were estranged at the time of the conversations.Not In Search Results: . . . spouse may enjoy marital privileges from . . .. . . the marital communications privilege may be waived . . . “marital privilege” — returns only cases with that exact phrase19Introduction to Boolean Searching

20. General note on the plural formRemember to include your pluralsFastcase does not automatically look for plurals in Boolean searchesIf you want to include plurals, you have to tell the engine to look for them by using a wildcard or root expander20Introduction to Boolean Searching

21. Root expander (*, !) — mar*Return cases with at least one word that begins with “mar.” Pros:Useful for plurals, different tenses, gerunds, etc.Cons:Can slow down search times – if you just want to search plurals, OR is fasterCan be over-inclusive — see, e.g., maritime in this search.21Introduction to Boolean Searching

22. Single letter wildcard — ?myr??d— return all cases with either spelling (correct or wrong) of myriad22Introduction to Boolean Searching

23. Order of operations23Introduction to Boolean Searching

24. Parentheses — ()Consider the following search: car OR vehicle AND getawaycarvehiclegetaway24Introduction to Boolean Searching

25. car OR vehicle AND getawayWhat Fastcase actually sees:(vehicle AND getaway) OR carcarvehiclegetaway25Introduction to Boolean Searching

26. Subtle but important distinctionCorrect:(car OR vehicle) AND getawayIncorrect:car OR (vehicle AND getaway)carvehiclegetawaycarvehiclegetaway26Introduction to Boolean Searching

27. Advanced order of operationsConsider the following searches:Rule* /5 “803(5)” AND knowledge OR recall NOT memoryknowledge OR recall NOT memory AND Rule* /5 “803(5)”Rule* /5 “803(5)” AND (knowledge OR recall) NOT memoryA (wrong): 157,342 results; B (wrong): 1,038,488 results; C (right): 99 results 27Introduction to Boolean Searching

28. Back to our example28Introduction to Boolean Searching

29. ConceptKeyword & OperatorTestimonial privilege(testimon* or marital) /3 privileg* ANDMarital privilegeCompelled testimony(compel* or requir*) /5 testi* ANDSpouse(spous* or husband or wife)Criminal trialNOT civil29Introduction to Boolean Searching

30. Example in Fastcase (testimon* or marital) /3 privileg* AND (compel* or requir*) /5 testi* AND (spous* or husband or wife) NOT civil30Introduction to Boolean Searching

31. First SearchSecond Search(testimon* or marital) /3 privileg* AND(testimon* or marital) /3 privileg* /15(spous* or husband or wife)(spous* or husband or wife) AND(compel* or requir*) /5 testif* AND(compel* or requir* or forc*) /5 testif*NOT civilNOT (civil or (attorney /2 privileg*))31Introduction to Boolean Searching

32. Adding search to Fastcase(((testimon* or marital) /3 privileg*) /15 (spous* or husband or wife)) AND ((compel* or requir*) /5 testi*) NOT (civil or (attorney /2 privileg*))32Introduction to Boolean Searching

33. Suggested TermsRemember: If you find brainstorming terms to add to your search phrase to be frustrating, you can always use the “Suggested terms” list at the bottom left of the results page to get ideas for terms to add to (or remove from) your search phrase and results.33Introduction to Boolean Searching

34. Additional Training Resources:Customer support8 am - 9 pm Eastern, Monday through Friday(excluding holidays)Call: 1-866-773-2782Email: support@fastcase.comLive Chat: Help -> Live Help34Introduction to Boolean Searching