Basic Research Process

 

Overview

The Big6 Research Process www.big6.com Created by Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz The Big6™ Skills The Big6 is a process model of how people of all ages solve an information problem. This page is an overview of the entire process.  Please see the individual pages for hints and links for each step.  Planning for research: Connect 1. Task Definition: What Information? 1.1 Define the information problem 1.2 Identify information needed What do I need to find out and where will I find it?  Read for background knowledge and topic development What Sources are Best for This Project? Wonder 2. Information Seeking Strategies: Which Sources? 2.1 Determine all possible sources 2.2 Select the best sources What original ideas can I incorporate into my thesis? Persistently collect the best sources. Investigate 3. Location and Access: Where? 3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically) 3.2 Find information within sources Collect just the information you will actually use for the project Read and Review the Sources & Take Notes Construct 4. Use of Information: Learn 4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear, view, touch) 4.2 Extract relevant information Extract only the best information. It is important to give credit where credit is due.  Express 5. Synthesis: Create and Credit 5.1 Organize from multiple sources 5.2 Present the information Credit Your Sources Check Your Work! Reflect 6. Evaluation 6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness) 6.2 Judge the process (efficiency) Make sure you have met the requirements and done your best work.  Connect: What Information? 1. Task Definition 1.1 Define the information problem 1.2 Identify information needed http://www.flickr.com/photos/dave77459/800462691/ Planning for research What is the assignment? How can I keep track of my progress? Online Organizers: What do I need to find out and where will I find it? http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaptainkobold/2570363860/ Build Background Knowledge Formulate some essential questions and keywords for searching: Will there be enough information on your topic?  Wikipedia and other online encyclopedias are good places to look  before you begin to develop a thesis. Are there links to further information?   Asking Good Questions:  a LibGuide by Joyce Valenza Wonder: Which Sources? 2. Information Seeking Strategies 2.1 Determine all possible sources 2.2 Select the best sources http://www.flickr.com/photos/timothygreigdotcom/2311346024/ http://21cif.com/resources/lapackage/dif_home.htm http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndm007/152640754/ Should I contact an expert for an interview? http://www.flickr.com/photos/hamiltonca/3447419753/ What original ideas can I incorporate into my thesis? Pictures used under a Creative Commons Attribution License What Sources are Best for This Project? Books? Online Databases? Pierce County Library Databases:  eBooks and reference sources  Websites from Search Engines?  (and how will you evaluate these sites for accuracy?) Wolfram Alpha: a search engine that computes data. The charts and graphs can be easily downloaded into a presentation later. Experts and artifacts? Look for experts in the field that are willing to be interviewed in person or online. Gather data on Twitter by posting a question to experts or using Twitterfall and/or Twitter Search to get current information on a topic that is appropriate for a wide range of input. http://twitterfall.com/ http://search.twitter.com/ Look at photographs, artwork or other artifacts as primary sources. What thesis can I generate that my pre-research shows I can support? Investigate: Where? 3. Location and Access 3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically) 3.2 Find information within sources Persistently collect the best sources and  find the information within the sources  that you will actually use in your project. Check out any books you need from the school or public library. Make an electronic file of the selections you need  and/or print or copy what you need making sure  you have the source citation information. Construct: Learn 4. Use of Information 4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear, view, touch) 4.2 Extract relevant information http://www.flickr.com/photos/manymeez/3528784271/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/ollyhart/123420044/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/shootingchris/62532954 Be Selective Extract only the best information! http://www.flickr.com/photos/imageining/3563128597/ Pictures used under a Creative Commons Attribution License Read and Review the Sources Take Notes Electronic Notes Options: Use slides just as you would note cards. Make sure to include your works cited information. NoodleTools Notecards Subscription Service NoodleTools includes an MLA citation maker updated to the latest version. a.nnotate http://a.nnotate.com/ Zotero [zoh-TAIR-oh] is a free, easy-to-use download to help you collect, manage,  and cite your research sources.  For more information and options see: Organizing/Synthesizing/Notetaking: A Libguide by Joyce Valenza Express: Create 5. Synthesis 5.1 Organize from multiple sources 5.2 Present the information http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharonpazner/2052112033/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/watch-me-now/230732467/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattsjunk/2319237048/ Synthesizing your information is like putting together a puzzle.  Your sources should be blended into a new whole  in an interesting way. Check your use of multiple sources.  If you are leaning heavily on one source,  go back and find resources to add. Present Presentations: Some alternative ideas Prezi: An alternative to PowerPoint for presentation slides: www.prezi.com Infographics Credit Your Sources http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalcolony/3127786429/ PowerPoint: Use the slide sorter function and outline view in Powerpoint to organize your  presentation. Try pre-writing on an organizer that fits your project: Avoiding Plagiarism Guide Present Your Work: Presentation Zen: Beyond Basic Powerpoint Write your paper in the format given to you by your teacher. If you are giving a visual presentation, consider some of these enhancements: Enhance your presentations with materials under the Creative Commons License: Creative Commons Search for pictures, music and video that you can use and/or adapt: Voice Thread http://www.flickr.com/photos/toasty/472330111/ Voice Thread: Add sound to a presentation: www.voicethread.com Works Cited Help: It is important to give credit where credit is due. At GHHS we use the MLA 7 (Modern Language Association) format for formal citations. I've created a blog page with electronic citation makers to support your work: Bibliography Tools Pictures used under a Creative Commons Attribution License Reflect: Evaluate 6. Evaluation 6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness) 6.2 Judge the process (efficiency) Check Your Work! http://www.flickr.com/photos/donnunn/140331897/   Before you turn in your paper or project,  make sure that you have double checked all of your steps and work.