Steps to Avoid a Scattershot Search

Categorize the answer

• Time consuming or quick?

  • Helps in avoiding panic and sets level of expectation

• Simple or complex?

  • Simplicity allows us to think "within the box" and allot a small amount of time to finding the answer

• Current or retrospective?

  • Useful in identifying questions that need current information vs. historical

• Specific or cross-disciplinary?

  • Will the answer be a fact or criticism?

• Single or multi-source?

  • Questions requiring a single source are usually closed-ended questions

• User appropriate?

  • Recognizes the users reading level (goes back to 6 Pieces of Evidence: WHO)

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