WHEN DO I NEED INFORMATION?
Information needs arise constantly during our waking hours. We need to know what time it is in order to arrive on time for class or work. We need information from traffic signs and signals to know when it is safe to proceed, and how fast we can safely drive. We are scarcely aware of the extent to which our brain is constantly processing the information we use to make decisions at almost any moment of our day. At other times however, we can become acutely aware of our need for information, usually because we come to a point where we can no longer proceed without some particular piece of information.
Often, answers can be found quickly and easily. For instance, what time is your favorite team's game playing on television? The answer can be found from the scrolling timetable on the cable channel or by consulting the TV Guide. Simple! Because these kinds of information needs occur every day, we quickly learn where to find the answers. No one would search for a phone number in the latest issue of TV Guide or search for television listings in the phone book. Answering these kinds of information needs become second nature and eventually require no real thought on our part.
Other kinds of information needs are more of a challenge. Students often find searching for information in the library or on the Internet a frustrating and difficult process. In most respects, however, these kinds of searches work exactly the same way as the more simple, automatic information gathering techniques we use everyday.
Let's examine the need for information. All information needs can be described as having two parts. A subject: "What information do I need?" and a source: "Where can I find that information?" Answering the question "What?" will help to determine the second part of our equation, "Where?"
Returning to the previous example of our sports team, the first question is what information do we need? "What time is the game being broadcast on television?" We don't need to know how to build a television, we don't need to know the history of broadcasting, and we don't want to know the names of the players on our team. We have a very specific question or information need that is easily answered by referring to our television listings.
However, if we change the statement to: "I need information on the game tonight" our task becomes more complicated. Do you want to know who is playing, where the game is being played, whether it is a division rivalry or a play-off game, whether the star player is injured, or simply what time the game is being broadcast? The answers to some of these questions may be given in the television listings, but certainly not all of them. We may need to consult the local newspaper's sports section or the team's online Website to see what players are injured or to find the answers to some of the other possible questions.
This example illustrates how important is it to know EXACTLY what information you are searching for in order to know where best to locate that information.
When using library and Internet resources students often make the mistake of beginning the search for sources before they have determined exactly what information they require. This often results in wasted time and effort, leading to frustration and the mistaken view that research is difficult.
Some questions to consider when deciding exactly what information you need may include:
- How much information do I need?
Are you looking for a short factual answer or an in-depth report or analysis?
- Does the information have to be current?
Are you looking for historical information or something like the current price of a stock that can change from minute to minute?
- How important is the format?
Full-text articles online sometimes do not contain photographs or other graphics available in the original article. Other kinds of changes can occur as information is produced in differing formats.
The key to finding the information we need to answer any question is first, to know exactly what it is you are looking for and second, to understand where that information is most likely to be found.