Office of Institutional Research

• 1. Identifies a need for information and is able to develop an appropriate research strategy and plan of action
  • assumes responsibility for being an engaged, active, and critical participant
  • is familiar with his/her own learning style and adjusts the research process accordingly

• 2. Recognizes that various disciplines and types of information have unique organizational structures, each with different means of access
  • identifies appropriate and authoritative tools (e.g., library catalog, indices and abstracts, bibliographies, reference works, etc.) for a given subject, discipline, or type of information (e.g., government documents, journals, books, etc.) using research guides, help pages, and other instructional resources
  • seeks assistance and guidance from instructors and librarians
  • formulates strategies for approaching poorly organized information

• 3. Selects and uses a variety of general and in-depth research tools, in print and electronic formats
  • understands that each source is best suited for specific purposes and audiences and provides differing amounts of information (e.g., brief or thorough, citations or full-text, introductory or advanced)
  • locates basic resources that identify the vocabulary of the discipline
  • formulates efficient search queries, specific to each tool, using controlled vocabulary, keyword searching, natural language, Boolean operators, truncation, and other techniques
  • documents, for future reference, each step of the research process as well as source materials consulted

• 4. Analyzes search results and selects relevant sources
  • considers authority, bias, accuracy, and other criteria to determine the value of sources (e.g., author’s credentials, publisher’s reputation, etc.)
  • evaluates appropriateness of sources for a particular information need (e.g., peer-reviewed and popular publications, primary and secondary sources, etc.)
  • captures, records, and manages pertinent citation information using bibliographic management software or other means
  • understands the procedures for obtaining material available locally or through interlibrary loan, document delivery services, and other means
  • considers refining the search strategy if the number or relevancy of sources does not meet expectations

• 5. Synthesizes the ideas and concepts from the information sources collected
  • combines research with original thought, experimentation, and analysis
  • selects a communication medium (e.g., narrative text, video, website, etc.) appropriate to the purpose of the research and intended audience
  • chooses an appropriate documentation style and uses it consistently to cite sources

• 6. Understands the legal, ethical, economic, and public policy issues related to the production and use of information and information technology
  • is aware of the social, political, and economic factors that influence which research is undertaken and what gets published
  • understands what constitutes plagiarism and recognizes when ideas and concepts need to be attributed
  • understands intellectual property, copyright, and fair use of copyrighted material
  • legally acquires, stores, and distributes text, data, images, sounds, or videos
  • understands issues relating to freedom of access to information and censorship
  • understands privacy and security issues related to both the print and electronic environments

• 7. Regularly transfers information-seeking skills to each new information need
  • is able to apply skills and techniques of the information-seeking process across a variety of academic disciplines
  • builds on existing knowledge of the research process to address future academic, work-related, and personal information needs

Developed by Bowdoin College librarians, March 2004. Portions of this document were inspired by: The Mission of Bowdoin College; and adapted from Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education, American Library Association (Association of College and Research Libraries); and Information Literacy Competencies and Criteria for Academic Libraries in Wisconsin, (Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians).