The Information Search Process:The Research River

An analogy to help explain the Information Search Process

Di Laycock/Lee FitzGerald

Stages of the Information Search Process

Stages of Information

Search Process 

Initiation

Task introduced

Selection

You choose

your area of interest

Exploration

You seek a broad

understanding of the topic.

Formulation

You develop your line

of enquiry

Collection

You collect in depth

information and take notes

Presentation

You synthesise your

information and plan your

report/essay/presentation/

Assessment

Teacher/peer/ self.

Feelings(Affective)

Uncertainty  Optimism  ConfusionFrustration

DoubtTHE DIP!

Clarity  Sense of direction /

Confidence

Satisfaction orDisappointment

 Sense of accomplishment  

Thoughts(Cognitive)

Vague Vague Confused Focused Increased interest

Increased interest

 Increased self-awareness

Actions(Physical)

Seeking relevant

Exploring

information Seeking pertinent

Documenting

information 

 

© Information Search Process is copyrighted by Dr. C. Kuhlthau.

The research riverStarting a research task, you are at the beginning of a

journey.

This is a journey that you’ll repeat many times in your life at school and work.

It’s not a simple journey, and may be likened to the progress a river makes from its source to the sea.

The research river: InitiationResearch can be likened

to a river’s progress. At its source, the river’s flow is weak and undirected.

In the Initiation stage of an assignment you may feel lost and uncertain as to the path you might take.

The research river: Selection

This is a peaceful and happy part of the research river.

You browse some shallows and get surface information on a few topics to help you choose the one you like.

Use preliminary searching: Broad, not deep - encyclopedias

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The research river: ExplorationAs water is added to the river, it  carves a channel for itself and soon forms a series of rapids.

You’ve chosen your area of interest, but as you seek information, you find there’s quite a lot of it!

Use Exploratory searching. Wide, not deep! Online databases, e.g. History Study Centre topic overviews etc.

You are trying establish the scope of the topic.

The research river: ExplorationYou may even plunge

headfirst over a waterfall - unsure of what lies below it –

THE DIP!

At this stage of the research process it is completely normal to fall into the

dip – to feel overloaded, and

confused!

It is definitely here where you should seek

teacher/librarian help!

Contained, directed searching is necessary

to come out of the Dreaded Dip!

The research river: Formulation

It is only after you’ve researched widely, navigated the flood of information that you feel strong and confident.

In the process, some of the water is left behind, as you work through the process of formulating your enquiry question.

After this sifting process, you are streaming ahead to the sea. You feel confident and focused now.

The research river: CollectionThe flow of the river has been

controlled.You are now in charge of the

information You are sorting it, controlling

it, shaping it to answer your question.

Use Comprehensive Searching: Pertinent not just relevant – Questia/ Online databases.

Use and adjust notetaking grids.

Keep quotes for your essay.Keep bibliographic details.

The research river: Presentation

Finally, as you approach your destination, you may be faced with choices (What exactly is the shape of my essay? How can I shape all my information into an argument?)

Which way will your research river flow to the sea?

Do I really have to do a bibliography? Footnotes? In-text citation?

The Research river: AssessmentYou’ve conquered

the raging Information River! You have reached the calm sea, peaceful and happy with yourself.

Or maybe there’s a little hole back in that old dam you might need to fix next time…

Thanks for the River analogy, Di Laycock, Barker College!

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