The Research Process
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The Research Process is a step-by-step information skills framework that improves student metacognition by making the learning process explicit.
Why a process?
Information literacy skills should not be taughts as isolated incidents, but as connected activities that develop ways of thinking about and using information.
Best practice for addressing Information Literacy in the curriculum is by embedding The Research Process in Inquiry Based teaching and learning programs. Seek out your teacher librarian to help with planning and team-teaching information literacy with your classes (ASLA 2004; Goodnough 2005; Rytivaara & Kershner 2012).
Why a process?
Information literacy skills should not be taughts as isolated incidents, but as connected activities that develop ways of thinking about and using information.
Best practice for addressing Information Literacy in the curriculum is by embedding The Research Process in Inquiry Based teaching and learning programs. Seek out your teacher librarian to help with planning and team-teaching information literacy with your classes (ASLA 2004; Goodnough 2005; Rytivaara & Kershner 2012).
Note: The steps of the process are not necessarily linear and can often overlap
Initiate
Brainstorm and define the research topic
Steps in the process
• What is my purpose?
• How can I deconstruct the research topic?
• What are the key words and ideas of the task?
• What is my Inquiry Question Focus or Thesis?
Locate
Steps in the process:
• What do I already know?
• What do I still need to find out?
• What sources do should I use?
• How do I find the information?
Select
Steps in the process:
• What information can I leave out?
• How do I know if the information I found is credible, reliable and relevant?
• How will I record the information I need?
• How do I read for understanding?
Organise
Steps in the process:
• Have I enough information for my purpose?
• How can I best summarise and paraphrase the information
• How can I use this information?
• How do I reference my information sources
Present
Steps in the process:
• What will I do with this information?
• With whom will I share this information?
• How will I communicate or share this information?
• How can I compose more sophisticated written responses?
Assess
Steps in the process
• Did I fulfill my purpose?
• How did I go - with each step of the information process?
• How did I go - presenting the information?
• Where do I go from here?
• What did I learn from this process?
• For collaborative group work: did each member fulfill their role?
Brainstorm and define the research topic
Steps in the process
• What is my purpose?
• How can I deconstruct the research topic?
• What are the key words and ideas of the task?
• What is my Inquiry Question Focus or Thesis?
Locate
Steps in the process:
• What do I already know?
• What do I still need to find out?
• What sources do should I use?
• How do I find the information?
Select
Steps in the process:
• What information can I leave out?
• How do I know if the information I found is credible, reliable and relevant?
• How will I record the information I need?
• How do I read for understanding?
Organise
Steps in the process:
• Have I enough information for my purpose?
• How can I best summarise and paraphrase the information
• How can I use this information?
• How do I reference my information sources
Present
Steps in the process:
• What will I do with this information?
• With whom will I share this information?
• How will I communicate or share this information?
• How can I compose more sophisticated written responses?
Assess
Steps in the process
• Did I fulfill my purpose?
• How did I go - with each step of the information process?
• How did I go - presenting the information?
• Where do I go from here?
• What did I learn from this process?
• For collaborative group work: did each member fulfill their role?
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References and further reading
Australian School Library Association. (ASLA). (2004). Standards of professional excellence for teacher librarians. Australian School Library Association. Retrieved from: http://www.asla.org.au/policy/standards.aspx
Australian School Library Association. (2016). Joint Statement on information literacy. ASLA. Retrieved from http://www.asla.org.au/policy/information-literacy.aspx
Berkowitz, R. and Eisenberg, M. (2014). Big6 Skills Overview. Big6.com. Retrieved from http://big6.com/pages/about/big6-skills-overview.php
Curriculum Support. (2009). Information process. Retrieved from http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/schoollibraries/teachingideas/info_skills/index.html
Curriculum Support. (2014). Information Skills in the School. Curriculum Support NSW. Retrieved from http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/schoollibraries/teachingideas/info_skills/assets/infoprocesscycle.pdf
DeLoatch, P. (2015). Inquiry in the Classroom: 7 Simple Tools To Get You Started. Edudemic. Retrieved from http://www.edudemic.com/inquiry-in-the-classroom/
Edutopia. (2016). Resources and Downloads to Facilitate Inquiry-Based Learning. Edutopia. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/article/inquiry-based-learning-resources-downloads
Eisenberg, M. B. (2008). Information literacy: Essential skills for the Information Age. Journal of Library & Information Technology, 28(2), 39-47.
FitzGerald, L. (2010). The Research River. Loreto College, Kirribilli. Retrieved from: http://www.slideshare.net/awhite/the-research-river
Goodnough, K. (2005). Fostering teacher learning through collaborative inquiry. Clearing House, 79(2), 88-92.
Kuhlthau, C. (2010). Information Search Process. Comminfo.rutgers.edu. Retrieved from https://comminfo.rutgers.edu/~kuhlthau/information_search_process.htm
Lupton, M. (2015). Critical evaluation of information and the Australian Curriculum. Inquiry Learning & Information Literacy. Retrieved from https://inquirylearningblog.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/critical-evaluation-of-information-and-the-australian-curriculum/
Maybee, C. (2015). Preparing Today’s Learners: The Role of Information Literacy in the Adoption of Innovative Pedagogies.
Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations. Paper 92. University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba.
http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/lib_fspres/92
Rytivaara, A., & Kershner, R. (2012). Co-teaching as a context for teachers’ professional learning and joint knowledge construction. Teaching and Teacher Education, 28(7), 999-1008.
State Library of Victoria. (2017). Research skills. Ergo. Retrieved from http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/learn-skills/research-skills
Toner, G. (2011). An introduction to the Australian Curriculum. Connections, 76(Term 1). SCIS. Retrieved from http://www2.curriculum.edu.au/scis/connections/an_introduction_to_the_australian_curriculum.html
Australian School Library Association. (ASLA). (2004). Standards of professional excellence for teacher librarians. Australian School Library Association. Retrieved from: http://www.asla.org.au/policy/standards.aspx
Australian School Library Association. (2016). Joint Statement on information literacy. ASLA. Retrieved from http://www.asla.org.au/policy/information-literacy.aspx
Berkowitz, R. and Eisenberg, M. (2014). Big6 Skills Overview. Big6.com. Retrieved from http://big6.com/pages/about/big6-skills-overview.php
Curriculum Support. (2009). Information process. Retrieved from http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/schoollibraries/teachingideas/info_skills/index.html
Curriculum Support. (2014). Information Skills in the School. Curriculum Support NSW. Retrieved from http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/schoollibraries/teachingideas/info_skills/assets/infoprocesscycle.pdf
DeLoatch, P. (2015). Inquiry in the Classroom: 7 Simple Tools To Get You Started. Edudemic. Retrieved from http://www.edudemic.com/inquiry-in-the-classroom/
Edutopia. (2016). Resources and Downloads to Facilitate Inquiry-Based Learning. Edutopia. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/article/inquiry-based-learning-resources-downloads
Eisenberg, M. B. (2008). Information literacy: Essential skills for the Information Age. Journal of Library & Information Technology, 28(2), 39-47.
FitzGerald, L. (2010). The Research River. Loreto College, Kirribilli. Retrieved from: http://www.slideshare.net/awhite/the-research-river
Goodnough, K. (2005). Fostering teacher learning through collaborative inquiry. Clearing House, 79(2), 88-92.
Kuhlthau, C. (2010). Information Search Process. Comminfo.rutgers.edu. Retrieved from https://comminfo.rutgers.edu/~kuhlthau/information_search_process.htm
Lupton, M. (2015). Critical evaluation of information and the Australian Curriculum. Inquiry Learning & Information Literacy. Retrieved from https://inquirylearningblog.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/critical-evaluation-of-information-and-the-australian-curriculum/
Maybee, C. (2015). Preparing Today’s Learners: The Role of Information Literacy in the Adoption of Innovative Pedagogies.
Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations. Paper 92. University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba.
http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/lib_fspres/92
Rytivaara, A., & Kershner, R. (2012). Co-teaching as a context for teachers’ professional learning and joint knowledge construction. Teaching and Teacher Education, 28(7), 999-1008.
State Library of Victoria. (2017). Research skills. Ergo. Retrieved from http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/learn-skills/research-skills
Toner, G. (2011). An introduction to the Australian Curriculum. Connections, 76(Term 1). SCIS. Retrieved from http://www2.curriculum.edu.au/scis/connections/an_introduction_to_the_australian_curriculum.html
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