Cartwheel Method of Legal Research

Statsky Cartwheel

• Law professor William Statsky devised a word association method to help generate search terms.
• The cartwheel categories can help you express your search in alternative ways. Bear in mind that some of the categories will overlap.

Record your searches

• Record your TERMS and also record the DATABASES you have searched and you will have a fully recorded search strategy.
• This will stop you doing repetitious searches.
• It will alsosave time later when you are creating a referenced document.

Start with topic word

Original search term

• INSOLVENCY
• How many search terms can you think of?
• Look closely at your research question identify relevant terms and also the type of answer expected.
• Is this an academic discussion or a legal problem question? This might influence the type of vocabulary you use...

Broader terms

• BANKRUPTCY
• How many more can you think of
• Investigate dictionaries and definitions.
• Use the thesaurus in databases

Closely related terms

• Debts, Arrears, Assets, Estate, Trustee, Creditor, Debenture, Property..
• How many did you think of?

Narrower terms

• Administration, Termination, Extinguish
• How many did you think of?
• Remember to consult dictionaries, commentary etc...

Synonyms

• Liquidation, Restructuring
• Did you think of these?
• Are there any more?
• Where did you look to find them

Antonyms

• Solvent, Credit, Profit, Cash flow
• Why check antonyms?
• The resources might cover or cross-reference your topic

Related procedures/remedies

• Winding-up, Receivership/ Voluntary Arrangement, Liquidator, Administrator
• Again, a work referring to these related topics may include your principal topic

Related persons/agencies

• ASIC, Public Trustee, Winding Up Petitions, Trustee in Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Trustee Service Australia, Liquidato

Long shots

• Fraud, Disqualification Order
• Can you think of any other long shot terms?

Now try it for yourself