Research Skills

Compiled by Western Institute of TAFE Libraries

Your TAFE NSW Campus Library provides access to a variety of information resources including the Internet. By increasing your information literacy skills you can more effectively locate, select and evaluate those resources.

Information is available from many sources and in many formats such as printed text, television, videos, library databases, websites, and more. To be ‘information literate’ you need to know why, when, and how to use all of those tools and to think critically about the information they provide.

By using the following six principles you will be on a path that will enable you to locate and interact with information sources that are best for your research, and to produce the assessment required.

Throughout your information search you will save yourself a great deal of time and effort if you keep good records & practice time management.

1. Define

Ask yourself these questions:

  • What is required - An essay? A speech? A report?
  • What are the keywords?
  • What do I already know about this topic?
  • What do I need to find out?
  • Can my teacher clarify the task?
  • When is my assessment due?

2. Locate

Where do I find the information I need?

Use the best resources from a variety of sources:

  • Books
  • Encyclopaedias
  • Magazines
  • Videos
  • Internet
  • People and organizations

3. Select

Which resources will be most useful?

  • Is the information relevant?
  • What can I leave out?
  • Evaluate the information carefully – is the material up to date, who has written the material and for what intended audience?
  • Have I recorded bibliographic sources of information correctly?

4. Organise

How can I best use this information?

  • Have I enough information?
  • Do I need to use all the information I have gathered?
  • How can I best combine information from different sources?
  • Have I used correct spelling and grammar?

5. Present

How can I best present this information?

  • Is my presentation logical and well organised?
  • Have I completed the assessment?
  • Have I used my own ideas and opinions?
  • Is the presentation appropriate to my audience?

6. Assess

How well did I complete the assignment?
  • What did I learn?
  • Is there anything I need to improve - locating, selecting, note making, time management?
  • How can I improve? - do I need to ask for help?
  • Who should I ask?

Ways the library can help you become information literate

  • Internet training sessions
  • Information literacy sessions

Ways the library can assist you with finding information

Tools the library can provide to assist with the presentation of your assessments

  • Stationery including CD-R’s & CD-RWs
  • Software - Office XP
  • B&W & colour printing
  • Binding
  • Laminating
  • Equipment that can be used in the library including cassette recorder, video camera & OHP