Research
(Information Literacy)
Information literacy is the ability to access, evaluate, organise and use information

Structure
1. DEFINING your topic
     • underline the key words in the task
     • brainstorm what is already known about the topic
     • pose questions to investigate

2. LOCATING your information
     • determine the range of possible sources
     • list keywords and search terms
     • identify which sources best answer the question

3. SELECTING your information
     • select a variety of resources (books, online sources, journals...)
     • skim and scan the text looking for keywords and phrases
     • select information that answers your focus questions
     • ensure information is recent, relevant, accurate and unbiased
     • record sources in a bibliography

4.ORGANISING your information
     • organise notes under headings
     • determine which information is most important
     • check that the focus questions have been answered
     • use own words or cite references

5. PRESENTING your information
     • determine the presentation format that is appropriate/required
     • check bibliography is in alphabetical order

6. EVALUATING your work
     • check that the question was answered
     • relect on new skills learnt
     • reflect on skills that need to be improved


More information
More ideas and examples of the research process can be found in:
• Ball, L 2001 'So you have some research to do!', MLC School, Burwood, N.S.W., viewed 10 November 2006, <http://users.tpg.com.au/welwel/Studentguide/infproc.htm>
• Eisenberg, M and Berkowitz, R 1987, 'The Big6', Big6Associates, viewed 9 November 2006, <http://big6.com/kids/index.htm>.
• 'The research process', 2006, St Aloysius College, S.A., viewed 9 November 2006, <http://www.sac.sa.edu.au/Library/Library/research_process.htm>

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