Information Literacy and the Research Process - Sellersburg: Home*

Cycle of Research Process

The research process is a cycle that you can apply to research for any course. Refer to these steps to guide you through the process.

• Chose a topic and get a working knowledge of that topic. State your topic as a question.

• Planning your search. Identify the main concepts or keywords in your question. Try to think of synonyms for your keywords.

• Find and access sources. Use the library catalog to find books and eBooks and library databases to find full text articles. You can also find resources on the Internet, but make sure that they are reliable.

• Evaluate your sources and determine which ones will be most appropriate for your research paper. Do they answer your research question?

• Cite your sources. If you are not sure on how to cite your sources correctly, refer to our Citing Sources LibGuide or ask a librarian. 

The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) defines information literacy as a set of abilities requiring individuals to "recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information."

ACRL's Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education include five standards focusing upon the needs of students in higher eduction.

Standard One: The information literate student determines the nature and extent of the information needed.

Standard Two: The information literate student accesses needed information effectively and efficiently.

Standard Three: The information literate student evaluates information and its sources critically and incorporates selected information into his or her knowledge base and value system.

Standard Four: The information literate student, individually or as a member of a group, uses information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose.

Standard Five: The information literate student understands many of the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information and accesses and uses information ethically and legally.

http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency