INVTECH Investigation Techniques Training - Module 2

[BrentDaug]

MODULE 2: RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
Systematic Approaches to Information Gathering

LESSON 2.1: Planning Your Research Strategy
Duration: 1 hour | Prerequisites: Module 1 completed

Learning Objectives

• Develop comprehensive research plans for investigations
• Identify appropriate sources for different types of information
• Create systematic documentation systems
• Apply the "research funnel" approach effectively

The Research Planning Framework

STEP 1: DEFINE YOUR RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Start every investigation by clearly defining what you need to learn:

Primary Questions
- The main mysteries you're trying to solve

• Who was involved in the incident?
• What exactly happened?
• When did events occur?
• Where did events take place?
• Why did events unfold this way?
• How did events happen?

Secondary Questions
- Supporting information that helps answer primary questions

• What was the person's normal routine?
• Who were their close associates?
• What stressors were present in their life?
• What resources did they have available?
• What similar cases have occurred?

Research Question Hierarchy Example:

STEP 2: SOURCE IDENTIFICATION AND PRIORITIZATION

Primary Sources (Highest Priority)

• Official records and documents
• Direct witness accounts
• Contemporary news coverage
• Physical evidence and forensic reports
• Official statements from authorities

Secondary Sources (Medium Priority)

• Expert analysis and commentary
• Academic research on similar cases
• Historical context and background information
• Comparative case studies
• Professional opinions and assessments

Tertiary Sources (Lower Priority)

• General reference materials
• Popular media coverage
• Social media discussions
• Rumors and unverified claims

PRIMARY: What happened to Sarah Martinez on March 15, 2019?

SECONDARY:

• Fridays?- What was Sarah's normal routine on Fridays?
• regularly?- Who did Sarah interact with regularly?
• life?- Were there any recent changes in her life?
• disappearance?- What was her emotional state in weeks before disappearance?
• area?- Are there similar cases in the area?

TERTIARY:

• 2019?- What was the weather on March 15, 2019?
• day?- What events were happening in the city that day?
• available?- What transportation options were available?
• routes?- What businesses were open along her usual routes?
• Speculation and theories

The Research Funnel Approach

WIDE TOP: Cast a Broad Net Initially

• Start with general information gathering
• Explore multiple angles and possibilities
• Don't narrow focus too quickly
• Collect more information than you think you need
• Stay open to unexpected discoveries

NARROW MIDDLE: Focus on Promising Leads

• Identify patterns and connections in broad data
• Pursue the most promising lines of inquiry
• Verify key facts through multiple sources
• Eliminate dead ends and false leads
• Concentrate resources on high-value research

SHARP POINT: Deep Dive into Specific Areas

• Conduct intensive research on confirmed leads
• Gather detailed information about key elements
• Cross-reference findings extensively
• Build comprehensive understanding of focused areas
• Prepare for evidence analysis and conclusion drawing

Documentation and Organization Systems

The DOCS Method:

• Document everything as you find it
• Organize information systematically
• Cite sources completely and accurately
• Search your files regularly for connections

Essential Documentation Elements:

1.Source Information​

- Where did you find this information?​

2.Date and Time​

- When did you discover/record this?​

3.Reliability Assessment​

- How trustworthy is this source?​

4.Context​

- What circumstances surround this information?​

5.Connections​

- How does this relate to other findings?​

6.Follow-up Actions​

- What additional research is needed?​

Digital Organization Structure:
Case_Name_YYYY/
├── 01_Overview_and_Planning/
│ ├── Research_Questions.doc
│ ├── Timeline_Framework.doc
│ └── Source_List.xlsx
├── 02_Primary_Sources/
│ ├── Official_Documents/
│ ├── News_Coverage/
│ └── Witness_Accounts/
├── 03_Secondary_Sources/
│ ├── Expert_Analysis/
│ ├── Academic_Research/
│ └── Comparative_Cases/
├── 04_Working_Files/
│ ├── Research_Notes.doc
│ ├── Connection_Maps/

Practical Exercise 2.1

Research Planning Workshop

Scenario: Plan research strategy for investigating a 1995 missing person case

Your Tasks:

1. Develop primary, secondary, and tertiary research questions​

2. Identify specific sources you would consult​

3. Create a research timeline and priority order​

4. Design a documentation system for the case​

5. Anticipate potential challenges and solutions​

Deliverable: Complete research plan document using provided template


LESSON 2.2: Advanced Search Techniques
Duration: 90 minutes | Prerequisites: Lesson 2.1

Learning Objectives

• Master advanced search operators and techniques
• Navigate complex databases effectively
• Develop specialized search strategies for investigations
• Apply cross-referencing and verification methods

Search Engine Mastery
Google Advanced Search Operators

Basic Operators:
"exact phrase" - Find exact word combinations
site:websitessite:example.com - Search within specific websites
filetype:typesfiletypedf - Find specific file types
intitle:"titleintitle:"search term" - Find pages with term in title
intext:"contentintext:"exact phrase" - Find exact phrase in page content

Advanced Operators:
related:websitesrelated:website.com - Find similar websites
cacheagecache:website.com - View cached version of page
define:explanationsdefine:term - Get definitions and explanations
stocks:informationstocks:AAPL - Get stock information
weather:informationweather:city name - Get weather information

Date and Number Operators:
after:dateafter:2020 - Content published after specific date
before:datebefore:2015 - Content published before specific date
2010..range2010..2020 - Content from date range
$products$100..$500 - Price ranges for products

Wildcard and Exclusion:
* from")* - Wildcard for unknown words ("* disappeared from")
- dogs)- - Exclude terms (cats -dogs)
OR - Either term (missing OR disappeared)
() 2019)() - Group terms ((missing OR disappeared) AND 2019)

Investigation-Specific Google Searches:
Finding People:
"John Smith" + obituary + "died 2020"
"Jane Doe" + (LinkedIn OR Facebook OR Twitter)
"Robert Johnson" + address + phone + city
"Mary Williams" + (graduated OR alumnus) + university

Finding Events:
"March 15 2019" + accident + highway + city
crime + robbery + "convenience store" + date + location
missing + person + name + last + seen + date

Finding Documents:
filetypedf + court + records + name
filetype:doc + police + report + case
site:gov + missing + person + database
site:newspapers.com + obituary + name + date

Database Navigation Strategies

Public Records Databases:

• Ancestry.com Research Techniques:
• Start with exact name and approximate birth year
• Use wildcard searches for uncertain spellings
• Cross-reference family members to verify identity
• Use location filters to narrow results
• Check multiple record types (census, vital records, directories)
  
  FamilySearch.org Optimization:​
• Use "Historical Records" for official documents
• Try alternate spellings and phonetic matches
• Search by location when names are common
• Use date ranges rather than exact dates
• Explore community-contributed information carefully

Newspapers.com Advanced Search:

• Use quotation marks for exact phrases
• Combine person's name with location terms
• Search by date ranges around known events
• Use "Browse by Location" for local coverage
• Check multiple newspaper titles in same area

Government Database Strategies:
Federal Resources:

• PACER (pacer.uscourts.gov) - Federal court records
• SEC EDGAR - Corporate filings and reports
• USPTO - Patent and trademark searches
• Library of Congress - Historical documents and photos
• National Archives - Government records and documents

State and Local Resources:

• Secretary of State websites - Business registrations
• County Clerk offices - Property and court records
• Vital Records offices - Birth, death, marriage records
• Professional Licensing boards - License verification
• Sex Offender Registries - Criminal background information

Cross-Referencing and Verification

The Three-Source Rule:

• Never rely on a single source for important facts
• Seek independent confirmation from multiple sources
• Note when sources cite each other (not truly independent)
• Document source reliability and potential biases
• Flag information that can't be verified

• Source Triangulation Method:
  
  Fact to Verify: John Smith lived at 123 Main Street in 1995
  Source 1: City directory listing (official record)
  Source 2: Voter registration (government database)
  Source 3: Utility company records (business record)
  Verification Level: HIGH (three independent official sources)

Red Flags for Unreliable Information:

• Information appears on only one website
• Source has obvious bias or agenda
• Details seem too convenient or perfectly aligned
• Anonymous sources with no verification possible
• Information contradicts multiple reliable sources
• Source has history of inaccuracy

Specialized Investigation Searches
Missing Person Research:
Fact 1995
Search String Examples: "2020)"
Jane Doe" + missing + disappeared + (2019 OR 2020)
John Smith" + found + identified + remains + DNA
missing + person + name + reward + family + contact
Mary Johnson" + sighting + alive + spotted + seen

Criminal Case Research:​

Search String Examples:​

"court"Robert Jones" + arrested + charged + convicted + court​

case recordscase + number + "12-CR-345" + defendant + records​

"report"Sarah Wilson" + victim + crime + police + report​

suspect trialsuspect + description + witness + testimony + trial​

Historical Research:

Practical Exercise 2.2

Advanced Search Challenge

Your Mission: Using only search techniques learned in this lesson, find the following information about afictional person:
Target: Margaret "Maggie" O'Connor
Known Facts: Lived in Boston, MA in the 1980s, worked as a nurse
Find: Birth date, family members, employment history, current status

Search Strategy Requirements:
1. Use at least 5 different advanced search operators
2. Consult minimum 3 different types of databases
3. Cross-reference findings through multiple sources
4. Document your complete search process
5. Assess reliability of each piece of information found

Time Limit: 2 hours
Deliverable: Complete search log with findings and methodology

 

INVTECH  Investigation Techniques Training - Module 1