"The ACRL Framework ... is called a framework intentionally because it is based on a cluster of interconnected core concepts, with flexible options for implementation, rather than on a set of standards or learning outcomes, or any prescriptive enumeration of skills. The Framework is organized into six frames, each consisting of a concept central to information literacy, a set of knowledge practices, and a set of dispositions. The six concepts that anchor the frames are presented alphabetically:
~Framework for information literacy for higher education. (2015). Chicago: Association of College & Research Libraries.
Authority Is Constructed and Contextual
"Information resources reflect their creators’ expertise and credibility, and are evaluated based on the information need and the context in which the information will be used. Authority is constructed in that various communities may recognize different types of authority. It is contextual in that the information need may help to determine the level of authority required." ~Framework for information literacy for higher education. (2015). Chicago: Association of College & Research Libraries.
Constructed Authority
Constructed authority happens because different communities look to different types of authorities. For example, let's say that two people from different religions are having a conversation about an issue of assumed morality (e.g. drinking alcohol or giving to charity). Maybe they both agree that giving to charity is a morally good action, but they may have different reasons for that belief because of what their holy book or religious authority teaches.
The same might be true for drinking alcohol. Different people might have different opinions based on who they consider a better authority. In the US, someone might think that drinking socially is fine as long as you are over 21. However, if you are from Canada or one of many countries in Europe, you may consider this age high for a legal drinking age. Who are you consulting as an authority? Which government? Which book?
Contextual Authority
Different groups construct authority based on different worldviews and priorities, and the information that is presented by these authorities is then contextual within each group. People from different groups will perceive the same information in different ways depending on how they construct their idea of authority.
Information Creation as a Process
"Information in any format is produced to convey a message and is shared via a selected delivery method. The iterative processes of researching, creating, revising, and disseminating information vary, and the resulting product reflects these differences." ~Framework for information literacy for higher education. (2015). Chicago: Association of College & Research Libraries.
There is no correct place to source information. Books can be biased or completely fictitious and breaking news can be communicated through social media or cell phone video footage. Certain information lends itself to certain formats; however, and that knowledge can be very useful for academic information creation. Understanding the information creation process can offer more insight and control over where you look for information and why.
Part of Information Creation as a Process includes understanding the publication process. Especially graduate students can benefit from being guided through this process.
Information Has Value
"Information possesses several dimensions of value, including as a commodity, as a means of education, as a means to influence, and as a means of negotiating and understanding the world. Legal and socioeconomic interests influence information production and dissemination." ~Framework for information literacy for higher education. (2015). Chicago: Association of College & Research Libraries.
Knowledge is power. Information is currency. Education is expensive? However, you want to think about this, the central idea the information has value means that giving credit is a sort of transaction you are making. We often refer to the concept that plagiarism is "stealing." This phrasing is apt because information that is not credited can loose the creator revenue, reputation, and recognition. Examples of this might be artists who have their artwork posted on websites or social media without there copyright or watermark. Those images may bring online traffic to that site, but the artist doesn't benefit because their artwork isn't credited.
In academic research, part of the problem is that information that is not cited correctly can't be linked with the context of scholarship that produced that information. Primo and Web of Science have methods to track what sources were used in a paper and what papers use a source. This context is really important, especially as research gets more complex and specialized. If information isn't cited, then that context is lost. The researcher will not be able to respond to your research and the conversation of scholarship is destroyed. There are also issue with career advancement. Publishing is important to a lot of academic positions, and errors in citation could lose a professor or scientist their job.
In business and professional cycles, information that is not cited correctly could mean lost income, patent infringement, or legal ramifications. All of these have financial consequences. This shows clearly that sometimes the value of information has a monetary price tag.
Research as Inquiry
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." ~Framework for information literacy for higher education. (2015). Chicago: Association of College & Research Libraries.
Tools for Success
Research is not a formulaic process. The Scholastic conversation means that all information is created and organized by people. These people may be better or worse about organizing, labeling and quantifying their information. They may not include keywords or metadata to assist other researcher in finding their information and they may publish in journals or databases that have more or less accessible platforms. All of this means that it is more important to offer tools to students that may help them to be successful, instead of teaching them the "correct" way to search for information. Tools for success may include critical thinking skills, persistence, creativity, and a strong subject vocabulary. It also will include good technology skills and a willingness to click on links, and look up tutorials, and Google how to interact with unfamiliar platforms.
Persistence
Researching doesn't follow a simple line forward or a progression of steps. It isn't enter search terms > find answer. Instead it is more like a conversation. You may start with search terms, but realized they aren't as helpful as you thought, so you change the keywords, or you go to a new location, and new database. Maybe you ask someone for help, or you start looking for a different type of source. Maybe you find one good source and you use that entry to find subject headings, keywords or citations in that article to push your search in a new direction. That is why researching is nonlinear; you may stop, start, recover material, and change the direction of your search often, even just for one topic.
Iterative is a word that means, repeatable or something following a set of rules. Even though the research process doesn't follow a single simple set of steps, there are basic rules that govern the best way to access information.
Some rules that help improve the research process:
Scholarship as Conversation
Communities of scholars, researchers, or professionals engage in sustained discourse with new insights and discoveries occurring over time as a result of varied perspectives and interpretations. ~Framework for information literacy for higher education. (2015). Chicago: Association of College & Research Libraries.
Scholarship Is a Conversation refers to the idea of sustained discourse within a community of scholars, researchers, or professionals, with new insights and discoveries occurring over time as a result of competing perspectives and interpretations. The web of citations leading to and from articles links scholarship together and makes it dependent upon many individuals in many places over time. Research and scholarship is never conducted in a vacuum. Cultural norms, societal expectations and assumptions, and differences in age, race or gender (for example) allow scientists to approach problems with unique mindset and this boosts the diversity and depth of the field.
Searching as Strategic Exploration
Searching for information is often nonlinear and iterative, requiring the evaluation of a range of information sources and the mental flexibility to pursue alternate avenues as new understanding develops.~Framework for information literacy for higher education. (2015). Chicago: Association of College & Research Libraries.
"Nonlinear and iterative"
Researching doesn't follow a simple line forward or a progression of steps. It isn't enter search terms -> find answer. Instead it is more like a conversation. You may start with search terms, but realized they aren't as helpful as you thought, so you change the keywords, or you go to a new location, and new database. Maybe you ask someone for help, or you start looking for a different type of source. Maybe you find one good source and you use that entry to find subject headings, keywords or citations in that article to push your search in a new direction. That is why researching is nonlinear; you may stop, start, recover material, and change the direction of your search often, even just for one topic.
Iterative is a word that means, repeatable or something following a set of rules. Even though the research process doesn't follow a single simple set of steps, there are basic rules that govern the best way to access information.
Some rules that help improve the research process:
Influence of Google
Let's talk about Google.
Google is excellent for when you are looking for information that is fact, known and recorded. It is less great when you are looking for the answer to a question you are not sure has been answered. Because academic research looks at add information to what is already known, Google is only really supportive if you are looking for background information. Gathering background information is not the same as researching. This is a really good starting place, but it should not be when you end your research. KEEP IN MIND, the algorithms and technical process for retrieving information is vastly different when you are searching in Google vs searching through library sources.
Quality over Speed
One of the good things about Google is that it is fast. Most people use Google searches for quick and easy answers. However, academic research is just going to take more time. In order to find information that is appropriate and comprehensive, you will need to spend some time searching. Much more time that you would usually spend on a Google search. For a ten page research paper, with 10-12 sources, I usually give myself a week or two just for research, with an hour or two every day spent looking for sources. This is the way to find the most applicable sources for your project.
Necessity of Critical Thinking
We have talked a little about how important critical thinking is, but during the research process, you will need to make critical thinking decisions about whether sources are going to be useful for your project. Why are you choosing one source and not the other. Are you just choosing articles that are easy to read? that already agree with you? are you looking at the whole picture or are you trying to find information to support your assumptions about a topic? Are you trying to prove something? Are you looking for an article that is less than 20 pages so you don't have to read as much? TRUST ME! I have done all of these things when I was learning to research. THEY ARE SO TEMPTING! But they are not intellectually honest. They don't give you quality research. Using critical thinking skills to make choices based on accuracy, authenticity, and relevance is a much more scholastic practice and the benefits of doing research right from the start is incredible.
