1. Task Definition
1.1 Define the information problem
1.2 Identify information needed to complete the task (to solve the information problem)
What's the task?
What types of information do I need?
2. Information Seeking Strategies
2.1 Determine the range of possible sources (brainstrom)
2.2 Evaluate the different possible sources to determine priorities (select the best sources)
What are the possible sources?
Which are the best?
3. Location and Access
3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically)
3.2 Find information within sources
Where is each source?
Where is the information in each source?
4. Use of Information
4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear, view, touch) the information in a source
4.2 Extract relevant information from a source
How can I best use each source?
What information in each source is useful?
5. Synthesis
5.1 Organize information from multiple sources
5.2 Present the information
How will I organize all the information?
How can I present the result?
6. Evaluation
6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness)
6.2 Judge the information problem-solving program (efficiency)
Is the task completed?
How can I do things better?
The Big6 is copyright Michael B. Eisenberg and Robert E. Berkowitz.