Problems of Boolean Searching

1. ALR: Electronic Case Research 1 Problems of Boolean Searching Inverse relationship between precision and recall Definitions of precision and recall Synonymous words Ambiguous words Contextual problems Analogy Search example: Dog w/25 sniff! and school(Westlaw) Dog w/25 sniff! and school and student and locker (Westlaw) Dog w/25 sniff! and school (Lexis) Dog w/25 sniff! and school and student and locker (Lexis)

2. ALR: Electronic Case Research 2 Natural Language Searching Assigns weights to the terms in your search expression on the basis of the significance of those terms. Cases are returned in order of relevance Strips out stop words and initial phrases Stemming program Indentifies legal phrases � 78,000 in the DB so don�t need to use �� Applies equivalencies � ave will get you avenue Example: Can sniff dogs be used to search student or school lockers stems sniff and gets sniffer, sniffing

3. ALR: Electronic Case Research 3 Where?

4. ALR: Electronic Case Research 4 Why?

5. ALR: Electronic Case Research 5 Costs

6. ALR: Electronic Case Research 6 Costs (2) Examples ( from 2002 so a little dated) of Lexis and Westlaw costs: Lexis (word document) Westlaw (word document)

7. ALR: Electronic Case Research 7 Terms - 1 Truncation ! � finds up to 16 characters sniff != sniff, sniffer, sniffing, sniffy Universal character * object**=object, objects, objected within a word � kn*w Automatic plurals dog =dog and dogs; driver=driver drivers driver�s drivers But plural only retrieves the plural Can turn off automatic plurals WL: #damage LX: singular (damage)

8. ALR: Electronic Case Research 8 Terms - 2 Can use # to search for stop words (Westlaw) #at will Acronyms e.p.a.=e.p.a. epa e p a (Westlaw) Compound phrases air-bag=air bag airbag air-bag (Westlaw) Numbers (Lexis and Westlaw) Twelve=12 First = 1st

9. ALR: Electronic Case Research 9 Terms - 3 Spelling variations and errors (Westlaw) Judgment=judgement Can turn off equivalencies (Westlaw) #S.E.C. will retrived SEC but not the word �section� Query term 415 retrieves 415.5 but query term 415.5 doesn�t retrieve 415

10. ALR: Electronic Case Research 10 Connectors - 1 PHRASE Lexis: electronic mail=�electronic mail� Westlaw: electronic mail =electronic or mail Therefore must use ��, i.e. �electronic mail� OR (space in Westlaw) finds documents with any of the search terms e.g. doctor or physician

11. ALR: Electronic Case Research 11 Connectors - 2 PROXIMITY (1) Westlaw: +n - finds words within number of words in the order listed e.g. right +2 counsel Lexis: pre/n e.g. right pre/2 counsel PROXIMITY (2) Westlaw /n - finds words within # of words in any order e.g. video /4 surveillance Lexis: w/n e.g. video w/4 surveillance General rules numbers up to 255 +n always processed before /n lower number processed before higher number

12. ALR: Electronic Case Research 12 Connectors - 3 SENTENCE Westlaw /s - finds words in the same sentence regardless of order e.g. child /s support Lexis: w/s Child w/s support SENTENCE (2) Westlaw +s � specified order in same sentence e.g. child +s support PARAGRAPH Westlaw /p - finds words in the same paragraph e.g. homeless /p shelter Lexis w/p e.g. homeless w/p shelter PARAGRAPH (2) Westlaw +p � specified order within the same paragraph homeless +p shelter

13. ALR: Electronic Case Research 13 Connectors - 4 AND & finds all documents that include all words e.g. search & warrant BUT NOT (Westlaw) % - finds all documents that include the first term but not the second term e.g. trust % charitable AND NOT (Lexis) e.g. and not name (berring)

14. ALR: Electronic Case Research 14 Order and Nesting (1)

15. ALR: Electronic Case Research 15 Order and Nesting (2) Dogs AND cats OR pets Looks for documents with the words cats OR pets Then narrows those documents to the ones containing the word dogs

16. ALR: Electronic Case Research 16 Order and Nesting (3) (Dogs AND cats) OR pets first looks for documents with dogs AND cats then broadens search by looking for documents containing the word pets documents must meet the condition of containing both dogs AND cats, or alternatively the word pets You can change the order of processing by putting parentheses around terms to indicate those actions should be taken first

17. ALR: Electronic Case Research 17 Order of Processing

18. ALR: Electronic Case Research 18 Order of Processing Example electronic or artificial w/25 surveillance or monitor! /p employee or worker and �invasion of privacy� operation 2 within 25 words operation 3 operation 5 within same paragraph operation 4 operation 6 and operation 1 electronic or artificial w/25 surveillance or monitor! /p employee or worker and "invasion of privacy" (Westlaw)

19. ALR: Electronic Case Research 19 Fields and Segments (Westlaw) ti(o'connor and ortega) sy("reasonable expectation of privacy" /p worker employee) he("reasonable expectation of privacy" /p worker employee) Note: Results Plus Add Related Search Terms Thesaurus

20. ALR: Electronic Case Research 20 Westlaw Background and Holdings Example: U.S. v. Hajduk,396 F.Supp.2d 1216, D.Colo., Oct 19, 2005 Note: background and holding information Note: 28 headnotes

21. ALR: Electronic Case Research 21 Westlaw Keynumber Searching Example: U.S. v. Hajduk, 396 F.Supp.2d 1216 [2]KeyCite Notes 349 Searches and Seizures�349I In General����349k25 Persons, Places and Things Protected������349k26 k. Expectation of Privacy.

22. ALR: Electronic Case Research 22 Westlaw Keysearch Browsable outline of legal topics Each topic has a pre-formulated query which incorporates the appropriate key number(s) and other relevant terms Search option: You can also search the KeySearch topics and subtopics for specific terms. Type the terms in the text box in the left frame of the KeySearch page and click GO. A list of topics and subtopics containing the terms in their hierarchy is displayed. Example: e-mail Examples: All Topics�>�Employment Law�>�Employee Privacy�>�Computer Files; E-mail Click on View/Edit Full Query to see the West pre-written query. If you add search terms it will add them to the existing pre-written query

23. ALR: Electronic Case Research 23 Westlaw: Directory Use the online directory to locate smaller more specialized databases All Databases�> Topical Materials by Area of Practice�> Labor & Employment�> Federal Cases Homeland Security and Anti-Terrorism - Cases (HOMELAND-CS) ���� Note the ������

24. ALR: Electronic Case Research 24 Fields and Segments (Lexis) counsel ( davis polk ) writtenby (mosk) ln-headnotes ("reasonable expectation of privacy" /p worker or employee) ln-summary ("reasonable expectation of privacy" /p worker or employee)

25. ALR: Electronic Case Research 25 Lexis: Features electronic or artificial w/25 surveillance or monitor! w/50 employee or worker and �invasion of privacy� Syntax definition Suggest terms for my search (can also be used after running a search) Supervisor, co-worker, wiretap, oral communication, fourth amendment Check spelling Easy Search - google-esque search �You are not required to enter your terms using terms and connectors or natural language guidelines, but if you do, the LexisNexis search engine automatically detects which type of search to perform�

26. ALR: Electronic Case Research 26 Lexis: Headnotes/Search Advisor �Headnotes identify the major points of law found in an opinion, expressed in the actual language of the court.� Example: Vega-Rodriguez v. Puerto Rico Tel. Co., 110 F.3d 174 Note: procedural posture, overview, outcome, core terms Headnote: Constitutional Law : Search & Seizure : Scope of Protection Takes you to Search Advisor

27. ALR: Electronic Case Research 27 Lexis: Headnotes/Search Advisor Cont�d In Search Advisor see scope note � subset of documents Example: Step One: From 110 F.3d 174- Federal Constitutional Law Cases Step Two Either: Retrieve all headnotes and additional cases on this topic OR Terms: if left blank will use term outlined in scope note OR Terms: "reasonable expectation of privacy" /p computer Or Natural Language You can limit by segment, date

28. ALR: Electronic Case Research 28 Lexis: Headnotes/Search Advisor Cont�d Can use Search Advisor through the tab at top of screen Option 1: Find a Legal Topic Example: electronic mail takes you to Labor & Employment Law > Employee Privacy > Invasion of Privacy Option 2: Explore Legal Topics Example: Labor & Employment Law (at this point you can search in the entire topic of labor and employment: see �Search within this source search for documents in this area of law�) Drill further down to Employee Privacy > Invasion of Privacy

29. ALR: Electronic Case Research 29 Lexis: Core Terms/Core Cites/More Like This/More Like This Headnote �Core terms are important words and phrases that appear within a document � More Like This �Lexis searches for documents with language patterns similar to the document from which you invoked More Like This� also �more like this headnote� �more like selected text� These are natuaral language searches and will give you a default number of result set in your preferences Core: cites:�Searches for other documents with citation patterns similar to the document from which you invoked More Like This�

30. ALR: Electronic Case Research 30 Lexis: Directory Use online directory to find smaller and more specialized databases: Legal > Area of Law - By Topic > Labor & Employment > Cases > State > CA Labor & Employment Cases

31. ALR: Electronic Case Research 31 Natural Language Searching Add field restrictions � weight given to fields is increased. E.g. Smith in judge field it is given more weight than if it was just in the search Use the date field for updating research Control concepts (WL) or (Restrict Search Using Mandatory Terms in Lexis) can have required fields � or excluded fields Theasaurus (WL) or Suggest Words and Concepts for Entered Terms (Lexis) Can sniff dogs be used to search student or school lockers Using WL thesaurus: Can sniff dogs (CANINE) be used to search student (PUPIL) or school lockers And required term (control concept) - school Lexis: can sniff or sniffer dogs be used to search student or school lockers�� With suggested terms: Can sniff or sniffer dogs be used to search student or school lockers, pupil, children If you repeat terms it increases their weight You can increase you search results from the default number

32. ALR: Electronic Case Research 32 LoisLaw (employee or worker) and "invasion of privacy" near100 computer Search operators: Lois Operators No headnotes Official pagination Links to Codes and State/Federal Cases

33. ALR: Electronic Case Research 33 Free Websites Findlaw: http://www.findlaw.com/casecode/ Law Library http://www.law.berkeley.edu/library/online/federalResearch/judicial/general.html Coverage varies No bells and whistles

34. ALR: Electronic Case Research 34 Internet Searching and Search Tools Article: Survey: Searchers are Confident, Satisfied & Clueless (SearchEngine Watch) Search Tools http://www.google.com http://www.a9.com http://www.yahoo.com http://www.askjeeves.com http://www.teoma.com http://www.alltheweb.com Problems? Coverage: time, extent, depth Accuracy and reliablity Lack of sophistication in search tools

35. ALR: Electronic Case Research 35 Internet Searching and Search Tools

36. ALR: Electronic Case Research 36 Tips Come to Terms and Connectors search with jargon and specifics Use secondary sources � treatise, ALR Use smallest database possible Use distinct terms if possible Use segments/fields � similar rationale to using smallest database possible Utilize Lexis/Westlaw case-finding tools Topics/keynumbers � custom digest Search Advisor (Lexis); KeySearch (Westlaw) More like this/More like this headnote Try Natural Language