Statsky’s Cartwheel
• American Law professor William Statsky devised this word
association method to help generate search terms.
•Parallel with recording your terms record the databases you
have searched and you will have a fully recorded search strategy.
• The cartwheel categories can help you express your search in
alternative ways. Bear in mind that some of the categories will
overlap.
• The following slides illustrate the method in action click on the
original search term and follow the method through see if you
can add any extra terms. Click on the photo of the cartwheel to
go to the main slide.
The most common problems encountered
with student searches are inflexible search
terms which narrow results prematurely.
Broader
Terms
Closely
Related
Terms
Courts and
Agencies
Original
Term
Antonyms
Synonyms
Click on a category
to see an example
Procedures
and
Remedies
Long shots
Narrower
Terms
Original Search Term
Insolvency
How many relevant search terms can you think of?
Return to the main slide for some prompts.
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 other search terms can you think of?
Return to the main slide for more prompts.
Investigate dictionaries and definitions.
Thesauri in databases can also help.
Closely Related Terms
Debts, Arrears, Assets,
Estate, Trustee, Creditor,
Debenture, Property
How many relevant search terms did you think of?
Return to the main slide for more prompts.
Narrower Terms
Administration, Termination,
Extinguish
How many relevant search terms can you think of?
Return to the main slide for more prompts.
Investigate dictionaries and definitions.
Thesauri in databases can also help.
Synonyms
Liquidation, Restructuring
How many relevant search terms can you think of?
Return to the main slide for more prompts.
Investigate dictionaries and definitions.
Thesauri in databases can also help.
Antonyms
Solvent, Credit,
Profit, Cash flow
How many relevant search terms can you think of?
Return to the main slide for more prompts.
There are two reasons for checking antonyms:
• resources might cover or
• cross reference your topic.
Procedures/Remedies
Winding-up, Receivership/
Voluntary Arrangement,
Liquidator, Administrator
How many relevant search terms can you think of?
Return to the main slide for more prompts.
How many relevant search terms did you think
of?
Return to the main slide for more prompts.
Courts and Agencies
Companies House,
Central Registry for Company
Winding Up Petitions,
Register of Insolvencies
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.
Long Shots
Fraud,
Disqualification Order
How many relevant search terms can you think of?
Return to the main slide for more prompts.
Sometimes this type of hunch opens up other
areas to search.