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 How to Solve an Information Problem

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An information problem exists when you recognize that there is a gap between what you already know and what you need to know to solve a problem or make a decision. You may need to gather information for a research paper, a project, or a speech, or you may need to find the population of a country. 

Whatever the specific gap in knowledge, there are five steps** to solving any information problem. The time you spend on each step will vary, and you often need to revisit a step more than one time.

Step 1. Define = Define the problem.

Step 2. Strategize = Develop a strategy for solving the problem.

Step 3. Seek & Evaluate = Locate the information.

Step 4. Use & Evaluate = Engage (for example, read, hear, view) the information and extract what you want to use (take notes, copy, cite)

Step 5. Synthesize = Integrate the information from various sources to answer your question or complete your paper, speech, project, etc.

**These 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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