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Framework for Information Literacy: Research as Inquiry

Compiled by the FLA Academic Instruction & Information Literacy Member Group

RESEARCH AS INQUIRY: Knowledge Practices and Lesson Plans

Research is iterative and depends upon asking increasingly complex or new questions whose answers in turn develop additional questions or lines of inquiry in any field.

•formulate questions for research based on information gaps or on reexamination of existing, possibly conflicting, information;

•determine an appropriate scope of investigation;

•deal with complex research by breaking complex questions into simple ones, limiting the scope of investigations;

•use various research methods, based on need, circumstance, and type of inquiry;

•monitor gathered information and assess for gaps or weaknesses;

•organize information in meaningful ways;

•synthesize ideas gathered from multiple sources;

•draw reasonable conclusions based on the analysis and interpretation of information.