Info Need Checklist

Research @ the Library: Information Needs Checklist Before you search, use this checklist to plan out what kinds of information you need. This will save you time later on, and help you find better resources. Research Topic/Question: __________________________________________ Key Words: ___________ ___________ ___________ _________ _________ Check all that apply: 1. Assignment Requirements  Type of assignment (essay, research, compare-contrast, etc.):______________  Minimum number of sources to consult: _________________ 2. Timeframe  Current information (e.g., published in last 3, 5 years or 10 years)  Historical information (do you need to look at the history of the topic?) 3. Place  Limit topic by geographic location? Countries or region(s): _________________________________ 4. Publication Type What kinds of materials might contain useful information?  Reference Materials (definitions, encyclopedia entries, etc.)  Journals  Magazines  Newspapers  Books  Websites  Government documents/reports  Multimedia (images, video, audio, etc.) 5. Information Type  Peer-reviewed/scholarly journals  Popular periodicals (National Geographic, Time, etc.)  Primary sources (original research or account of event)  Secondary sources (interpretation of others' work) Center for Learning and Technology SUNY Empire State College

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7/10/08

 Statistics  Opinions (pro or con, essays, etc.)  Other (case studies, literature reviews, biographies, etc.)

Center for Learning and Technology SUNY Empire State College

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7/10/08