The purpose of this building block

Introduction

As soon as you realize you need more information, you could first look at what others have already done, before you try to reivent the wheel. When you learn what is already known, you can build upon this existing work, and improve your own solution. "Standing on the shoulders of giants". But to make use of existing work, you first need to actually find the information!

In this building block we explain how to quickly find relevant information. For this we dive into the first three steps of the popular Big 6 model for solving information problems. You learn to define your information need, select suitable resources, tips for finding information in a database with keywords and search queries, and how to find even more information using three different search strategies.

The next clip (4 min) provides a quick overview of what you will learn in this building block.

How to quickly find the information you need

Learning goals

At the end of this building block:

You can determine your information need by starting at your end goal.
You can determine where you might find the necessary information.
You can uncover suitable search keywords and combine them into a suitable search query.
You can use various search strategies to use what you found to uncover even more potentially relevant information.

DOT framework

Finding information is part of information literacy. These are skills that help you find, find, assess and process information. This generally concerns information from Available work, which is used within the research strategies Library and Showroom in the DOT framework.

The Big 6 model

There is a commonly used model for solving information problems, called the Big6 (Berkowitz & Eisenberg, 1990):

What do you want to know?
Determine your information question and the goal you want to achieve with the answer.
What are suitable resources?
Brainstorm potential resources for finding your information and then create a shortlist.
How can you find the right information?
Make use of different search strategies. For database search: determine the right keywords and really get to know your search engine.
How can you use and evaluate information?
Quickly scan through the information you found and determine its suitability (for example with the CRAAP test). Only the information you have afterwards you really read.
How can you process the information?
Process the information you found into a convincing answer to your question. Use a consistent style to refer to the sources you have found and avoid plagiarism.
What is the quality of your report?
Evaluate whether you actually have the answer you need to continue, or whether you might have to answer other questions first to reach your goal. Is your answer indeed well substantiated? Are you sure (enough) to continue?

In this building block we give tips for step 1 to 3. For the third step we mainly focus on online literature research.

Step 1) What do you want to know?

It all starts with your question. Without a concrete question you do not know what kind of answer you are looking for, and therefore not what information you need for the answer (the information need). When are you done?

To help you with that, it may be useful to start with the end.

What do you actually want with the answer? How does this contribute to solving the central problem in this project?
What would the answer to your question look like if you did it well?
Is the answer a comparative table or chart to make a trade-off? Is it a line of text with a source reference to substantiate? Is it a diagram that clarifies what the situation is?

Complete your assignment with a specific question and an idea of what the answer might look like, so that you can work effectively and not get caught up in endless searching.

Step 2) What are suitable resources?

Now that we have a specific question, where are we going to get information for an answer? Resources are meant here in the broadest sense. This is not just about the choice between Google or Google Scholar. A resource could also be an expert, a database or a manual. Finding suitable resources consists of two steps:

What are possible resources?
The first step is to brainstorm where you might get relevant information. This ensures that you think about all the possibilities. An overview for inspiration can be found in the hbo-ict libguide of the Saxion Bibliotheek, but there are also other sources of information such as forums and experts.
Which are the most suitable for your question?
The next step is to determine per resource on your brainstorm list how suitable it is given your specific question. With that shortlist you will get to work. Incidentally, it may well be that the entries on your shortlist do not turn out to be suitable at a later stage. Then simply come back to this step.

What kind of information you seek determines where you are looking for! Forums and experts are sources of experience. Scientific articles have often been thoroughly investigated and approved for publication by other scientists. These are often good sources for theories, models and relations, but also for validated questionnaires, for example. If you want to know how to do something, tutorials and manuals are interesting sources.

Tip: Try a resource that you do not know yet. If you always use the same resources, you will never find out what the other resources are good for. The more resources you know, the faster you can find suitable information.

Step 3) How can you find the right information?

Your question is clear now and you know where you want to search, but how do you find the necessary information? We will focus on a literature search in which you try to search for information using a search engine or database. Three aspects that play a role are: (A) Which keywords do you use? (B) How do you combine these keywords into a suitable search query? And (C) once you have found a possibly suitable article, how do you search from there to perhaps more relevant information?

Keywords

If you then choose your resource and it is a search engine or database, what will you enter in the search field? Which keywords? You often have to find out which technical terms are used in those information sources that you are trying to find. You can initially brainstorm from your search question:

Which concepts are central to the question?
Are there similar or broader / narrower concepts? (synonyms)
Are the terms open for only one explanation?
Are there relations between the terms used?

In addition to brainstorming from your initial question, you can ask an expert. You can also simply try out and adjust some keywords based on what you find. Once you have found something suitable, look at what words are used in that source! Last but not least: do not limit yourself to search keywords in your own language, but find out what the English terms are.

Search queries

Combining keywords
Keywords can be combined to achieve results that better suit your question. By default you indicate which keywords should appear in the results (for example: java programming), but you can also indicate in most search engines or databases which words you do not want to see in your search results (eg: java -island) or that certain keywords must literally be next to each other (eg: "java programming").

Search filters and tricks
If you can limit the results to a specific time period, such as last year, you immediately know that your results are up-to-date. With the help of these kinds of filters you can zoom in much faster on results that are relevant to your question. Exactly how to indicate such filters varies per search engine. So if you use a search engine or database, find out what kind of search filters and other tricks it supports and how.

Search strategies

Have you found something that is already quite relevant and useful? You can use that as a starting point to look for more material.

Database search
Typing search terms in a search entry and looking at what comes out, that is called the bibliographic method. Study the results you get with a search and then formulate a better query. Also look at the technical terms used in the relevant articles you already found.

Snowball method
A well-founded publication will refer to other sources to indicate where they got their information. Maybe those sources are also suitable for your problem. Note: An article will only refer to previous publications, so you will only find older articles.

Citation search
Some search engines and databases can also show which newer articles refer to the article you found. The reverse of the snowball method: which articles have used the item you found in the references list? This way you can find more recent, related articles.

Search log

The most important thing is that you continue to improve on the basis of what you find to get to your answer faster. Search is an iterative process. Do not linger at 1 resource with 1 set of search terms and 1 search strategy. For this, it can be useful to keep a logbook with what you have done and which potentially interesting sources you have found. This could, for example, be an Excel sheet with 4 columns: Where did I search? How did I search? What was the result? and: What am I going to do now to achieve better results?

A search log provides insight, which makes you more aware of what works and what not, so that you can come up with better results next time. You can also ask someone else to give feedback on your search approach. Maybe you'll get useful tips. In addition, you will soon forget where you found your information! A search log also provides an overview.

Example: Imagine having to build a system that must be able to show the results within the blink of an eye. Click here to see the search for the answer to the question: How long does an eye blink last?

Assignments

Individual assignment: search filters and tricks

Find which search filters and other search tricks are supported by Google.com. Note: Google can do much more than what you can type in the search field! Keep a search log during your search (example).

What search tricks seem helpful? In what situation?

Search filter / trick	Helpful when?

Group assignment: search log

First do the individual assignment. Now exchange your search log with the person next to you.

Scan the log. How did he/she come to an answer? What was helpful in that approach? Do you see something in the approach that you can learn from yourself (e.g. resources, keywords and search strategies)?

What was helpful in the approach?

What else could your neighbor have done to find suitable information faster?

Tips for improvement

Project assignment

Step 1) What do you want to know?
What information questions do you already have at the moment to come to a good solution for the project? Brainstorm together as a team to come to a list.

Step 2 + 3) Resources and search queries
Now continue in pairs. Choose 1 information question from the list that you expect to be able to answer with an online search. Make sure that each pair has a different question. Take a maximum of 20 minutes to try and find a useful answer to your question. Keep a search log and apply what you have learned in the individual and group assignment.

Share with your team
Then share your question and answer in the team. Briefly explain why you think this is a useful answer. Have you learned anything interesting or helpful about your approach during your search? Share your lessons learned.

If you have not been able to find a suitable answer in the given time, then tell what you have found (e.g. suitable resources, keywords, perhaps a result that is already somewhat in the right direction), and what you think still has to be done to arrive at a suitable answer.

Question
Answer
Suitable?
Tips approach?

Practical tips

Make sure the information question is concrete and that you already have an idea of what an answer might look like.
Think first about possible resources and then make a shortlist of what seems most relevant to your question. Google is not your only option!
Find out what kind of tricks a search engine or database offers and how you use it to formulate a search based on your keywords.
If you have found something that is already in the right direction, see which terms they use to continue your database search. Also use the snowball method and citation method to find more information sources.
Keep a search log to quickly find out what works and what does not, and to remember where you've found something. And try new things like another resource or a new search trick in the search engine you use the most.

Bibliography

Eisenberg, M. B., & Berkowitz, R. E. (1990). Information Problem Solving: The Big Six Skills Approach to Library & Information Skills Instruction. Ablex Publishing Corporation.

Unfortunately in Dutch:

Sanders, E. (2015). Slimmer zoeken op internet - de snelste route naar de beste informatie. Xander Uitgevers B.V.

Van Veen, M., Westerkamp, K. (2010). Deskresearch: informatie selecteren, beoordelen en verwerken. Pearson Education.

For the teacher

This section will not be translated into English (for now).

Het doel van deze bouwsteen
We verwachten van onze studenten dat ze niet zomaar een oplossing neerschrijven, maar hier op een bewuste, onderbouwde manier naartoe werken. Een van de manieren om dit te doen is door gebruik te maken van "bestaand werk", zoals al bestaande oplossingen, theorieen en modellen, ervaring van experts, handleidingen, enz.

Plaats in het curriculum en module
Deze bouwsteen komt het liefst zo snel mogelijk aan bod in het curriculum zodat studenten effectiever online allerlei soorten informatie op te kunnen zoeken.

Hoe deze bouwsteen precies wordt aangeboden is aan de betreffende moduleverantwoordelijke. Het materiaal is met opzet flexibel, zodat het in verschillende contexten goed ingepast kan worden. Het advies is om er een begeleidingsuur/workshop aan te besteden.

Deze bouwsteen is goed te combineren met andere informatievaardigheden, zoals informatie beoordelen, scannend en begrijpend lezen, en verwerken en verwijzen.

Voorbeeld lesplan
2 lesuren: De studenten kunnen worden gevraagd van te voren de bouwsteen door te lezen, met een korte verfrissing aan het begin van de workshop (10min), om vervolgens eerst de individuele opdracht te doen (15min), dan de groepsopdracht (15min) en te eindigen met de projectgerelateerde opdracht (40min).

1 lesuur: De kortste variant is om de student zelf thuis de bouwsteen te laten lezen en de individuele opdracht te laten doen en tijdens de workshop alleen de projectgerelateerde opdracht uit te voeren (5min verfrissing, 40 min opdracht).

Sheets: Bouwsteen informatie vinden EN.pptx

Tips bij de opdrachten
Individuele opdracht - Zoek zelf ook eens op wat voor zoekfilters en andere truuks Google biedt om sneller tot geschikte zoekresultaten te komen. Filteren op tijdperiode is een hele belangrijke, maar je kunt ook filteren op bijvoorbeeld bestandstype of locatie.

Groepsopdracht - Stimuleer studenten hier echt na te denken over wat handiger had gekund. De meeste studenten zijn een stuk slechter in zoeken dan ze zelf inschatten. Denk bijv. aan de gebruikte ingang, gebruikte zoektermen, de zoekopdracht, maar ook op welke bronnen vervolgens is doorgeklikt.

Projectopdracht - Dit is de belangrijkste opdracht, want dit is hoe studenten het hopelijk de rest van hun loopbaan gaan gebruiken. Voor het bedenken van de informatievragen kun je het beroepsproces langsgaan: Is het probleem al duidelijk? Wat zijn de eisen aan de oplossing? Wat zijn mogelijke alternatieve oplossingen? Zijn er al bestaande oplossingen voor dit probleem of iets vergelijkbaars? Wat is de beste aanpak om ...? Zijn er deeloplossingen om gebruik van te maken? Zie ook hieronder voor meer tips voor begeleiding.

Tips voor begeleiding op de leerdoelen tijdens een project
Kijk vooral ook zelf eens de bouwsteen door en welke vragen daarin worden aangereikt. Deze zijn namelijk ook zeer bruikbaar voor begeleiding. Denk bijvoorbeeld aan:

Welke vraag probeer je concreet te beantwoorden? Wat voor soort informatie zoek je eigenlijk? Hoe zou een mogelijk antwoord eruit kunnen zien en wat heb je nodig om daar te komen?
Waar zou je aan de informatie kunnen komen? Wat zouden geschikte zoekingangen kunnen zijn voor dit soort informatie? Heb je al eens zoekingang X geprobeerd?
Op welke woorden zoek je? Heb je deze woorden al eens terug gezien in een artikel of gehoord van een expert? Wat voor woorden gebruiken zij dan hiervoor? Hoe zou je daar achter kunnen komen?
Kun je in deze zoekmachine inzoomen op de resultaten van afgelopen jaar om zo aan up-to-date informatie te komen? Hoe dan? Hoe kun je ervoor zorgen dat bepaalde resultaten juist niet naar boven komen?
Wat voor bronnen heeft dit artikel zelf eigenlijk gebruikt? Staat daar misschien nog wat interessants tussen? Zijn er nieuwere artikelen die naar dit artikel wat je nu hebt verwijzen?

Als een student moeite heeft met zoeken, probeer er dan achter te komen in welke stap het mis gaat. Een zoeklogboekje kan ook inzicht geven.

Beoordelen
De stappen in deze bouwsteen zijn niet rechtstreeks zichtbaar in deliverables, waardoor ze lastig direct te beoordelen zijn. Je kunt wel kijken of ze uberhaupt gebruik maken van bestaand werk om het probleem beter te begrijpen en hun keuzes te onderbouwen, en je kunt kijken of de bronnen die ze gebruiken wel geschikt zijn voor de informatie die ze nodig hebben.

In deze pdf staan 2 beoordelingsmodellen voor informatievaardigheden. Een zoeklogboek is vereist om deze te kunnen toepassen.

Het arrangement 1.1.4 Finding information (EN) is gemaakt met Wikiwijs van Kennisnet. Wikiwijs is hét onderwijsplatform waar je leermiddelen zoekt, maakt en deelt.

Auteur: Saxion HBO-ICT
Laatst gewijzigd: 2020-09-18 03:49:09
Licentie: Dit lesmateriaal is gepubliceerd onder de Creative Commons Naamsvermelding 4.0 Internationale licentie. Dit houdt in dat je onder de voorwaarde van naamsvermelding vrij bent om:

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Aanvullende informatie over dit lesmateriaal

Van dit lesmateriaal is de volgende aanvullende informatie beschikbaar:

Toelichting: As soon as you realize you need more information, you could first look at what others have already done, before you try to reivent the wheel. When you learn what is already known, you can build upon this existing work, and improve your own solution. "Standing on the shoulders of giants". But to make use of existing work, you first need to actually find the information! In this building block we explain how to do this effectively. This is an HBO-IT building block for Research in Education.
Leerniveau: HBO - Bachelor;
Eindgebruiker: leerling/student
Moeilijkheidsgraad: makkelijk
Studiebelasting: 2 uur 0 minuten
Trefwoorden: available work, beschikbaar werk toepassen, building block, finding information, hbo ict oio, information literacy, keywords, research, search queries, search strategies

Bronnen

Bron	Type
How to quickly find the information you need https://youtu.be/lC2NS9FaUMY	Video

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hbo-ict open-oio. (2018).

Finding information

https://maken.wikiwijs.nl/135094/Finding_information

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