Module 1.
How to Solve an Information Problem
1. Define Problem
2. Strategize
3. Seek & Evaluate
4. Use & Evaluate
5. Synthesize
Where to Start Research

Contents:
Introduction
Module 2: Search Techniques
Module 3: SD Library Network
Module 4: Proquest
Module 5: Infotrac
Module 6: Lexis-Nexis
Module 7: OCLC Firstsearch
Module 8: 
Module 9: 
Module 10: 
Module 11: Internet Searching
Module 12: Evaluating Internet sources
Module 13: Scholarly vs. Popular
Module 14: Citing sources
Module 15: How to Get Material Not Available Online

Module 1 Step 1. Define Problem

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How to Solve an Information Problem...

Step 1. Define = Define the problem.

• Consider:  What questions do you need to answer? -- Figure out what you need to know or what evidence you need to provide.

When writing a research paper, it may help to:

• Choose a broad topic of interest
• Then limit the topic (focus the topic more narrowly).  To get ideas for how to limit the topic,
  • Examine overview sources such as encyclopedia articles for a specific issue, perspective, or person that might provide a focus
  • Search the broad topic in a periodical index and scan the titles for a specific issue, perspective, controversy, etc.
  • Examine a couple of books (or a textbook) on the broad topic to learn about specific issues, approaches, or perspectives on which to focus. 

• Consider:  What keywords describe what you want to know? --

Think about what words and phrases should be searched to produce the information you want.

Consider alternative ways to refer to the same topic. For example, "animal rights," "rights of animals," "protection of animals," "animal(s) research," etc.

You will need to use the keywords that describe your topic in order to search electronic databases.

[The five steps are based on the "big six skills" for solving information problems described by Michael B.Eisenberg and Robert E. Berkowitz in Information Problem-Solving: the Big Six Skills Approach to Library & Information Skills Instruction (Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing, 1990).]

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