How can you help improve your research skills?

- Use multiple sources that are relevant to the task and represent a wide range of views.  Make sure to use print and non-print sources.

- Evaluate the credibility of sources by considering the authority, the origin, type, context and corroborative value of each source.

- Learn to identify credible, relevant information contained in the sources.

- Use The Big6™ model to conduct your research.

The Big6™ Skills

The Big6 is a process model of how people of all ages solve an information problem. From practice and study, we found that successful information problem-solving (research!) encompasses six stages with two sub-stages under each:

1. Task Definition

1.1 Define the information problem

1.2 Identify information needed

2. Information Seeking Strategies

2.1 Determine all possible sources

2.2 Select the best sources

3. Location and Access

3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically)

3.2 Find information within sources

4. Use of Information

4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear, view, touch)

4.2 Extract relevant information

5. Synthesis

5.1 Organize from multiple sources

5.2 Present the information

6. Evaluation

6.1 Evaluate the product (effectiveness)

6.2 Evaluate the process (efficiency)