Optimal Search Strategies in Legal Databases: Boolean Concepts

Search databases commonly use Boolean logic. Boolean refers to a system of logical thought that is used to create true/false statements. A Boolean value expresses a truth value (which can be either true or false). Boolean expressions use the operators AND, OR, and NOT to compare values and return a true or false result. Boolean logic was developed by George Boole, an English mathematician and philosopher, and has become the basis of modern digital computer logic.

This Venn diagram shows 3 concentric circles illustrating 3 synonymous terms linked with the OR connector in a search. The innermost circle is labeled as the result set for the term keiki. The next circle is labeled as the result set for the term minor and encompasses the result set for keiki as well. The outermost circle is labeled as the result set for the term juvenile and encompasses the result sets for the terms keiki and minor.

The Venn diagram above shows 3 concentric circles illustrating 3 related terms linked with the OR connector in a search. The innermost circle is labeled as the result set for the term pig. The next circle is labeled as the result set for the term chicken and encompasses the result set for pig as well. The outermost circle is labeled as the result set for the term mongoose and encompasses the result sets for the terms chicken and pig.

The Venn diagram above shows 3 concentric circles illustrating 3 related terms going from narrowest to broadest and linked with the OR connector in a search. The innermost circle is labeled as the result set for the term yellow hibiscus. The next circle is labeled as the result set for the term flowering plants and encompasses the result set for yellow hibiscus as well. The outermost circle is labeled as the result set for the term Hawaiian native plants and encompasses the result sets for the terms flowering plants and yellow hibiscus.

Stop or Noise words are frequently occurring, insignificant words.  An example might be articles, pronouns, and prepositions – the, of, a, etc. Eliminate stop / noise words from a terms & connectors search.