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Quizzes > General Knowledge & Mixed

Big6 Research Model Quiz: Check Your Information Literacy

Quick, free research process quiz. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Logan DunnUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of six research step icons on golden yellow background for Big6 research model quiz challenge

This Big6 Research Model quiz helps you practice the six research steps, find gaps in your process, and get quick feedback. Keep building with the independent study and research quiz, explore methods in the research methods quiz, and review basics with the research writing basics quiz.

What is the first step of the Big6 Research Model?
Synthesis
Location & Access
Information Seeking Strategies
Task Definition
The Task Definition step is the first stage in the Big6 Research Model because it involves defining the information problem and pinpointing exactly what needs to be done. This foundational step clarifies the task and the information requirements before moving on. Without a clear definition of the task, subsequent research steps lack direction. For more details, see .
Which step of the Big6 Research Model focuses on generating keywords and brainstorming potential information sources?
Location & Access
Use of Information
Information Seeking Strategies
Task Definition
The Information Seeking Strategies step is where you plan how and where to find information, often brainstorming keywords and potential sources. It bridges defining the task and actually locating resources. Proper strategy selection saves time by targeting the most relevant sources. Learn more at .
Which Big6 step involves locating sources and accessing the needed information?
Task Definition
Synthesis
Location & Access
Evaluation
In the Location & Access step, you physically or digitally locate the sources you planned for and gain access to the information you need. This may involve visiting libraries, databases, or websites. It ensures you have the raw materials for your research. See for more information.
During which Big6 step do you read, view, or listen to the gathered information?
Task Definition
Evaluation
Information Seeking Strategies
Use of Information
The Use of Information step is when you engage with the collected data by reading, viewing, or listening to it. This step includes note-taking, highlighting, and extracting relevant facts. It transforms raw sources into usable content for your project. More details are available at .
What is the primary goal of the Synthesis step in the Big6 model?
Organize and present information
Locate sources
Define the research question
Evaluate source credibility
Synthesis involves organizing the information you've gathered into a coherent structure or presentation format, such as an outline, report, or slideshow. It pulls together notes and findings to create your final product. Effective synthesis demonstrates how different pieces of information relate to each other. For techniques, visit .
Which step of the Big6 Research Model entails judging the effectiveness of both your research product and the process you used?
Evaluation
Use of Information
Synthesis
Location & Access
Evaluation is the final step where you assess both the quality of your research product and how effectively you completed each previous step. It helps you identify improvements for future research projects. Reflecting on strengths and weaknesses ensures continuous learning. Learn more at .
The Big6 Research Model was first developed by Michael Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz in the 1980s.
False
True
Michael Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz introduced the Big6 Research Model in 1987 to provide a structured approach to information problem-solving. Since then, it has been widely adopted in educational and professional settings. This model remains a foundational framework in information literacy instruction. For historical context, see .
In the Task Definition step, which question would best clarify your research focus?
Which citation style is required?
How many paragraphs should my report have?
What specific questions do I need to answer?
Where can I publish my findings?
Task Definition requires clarifying the research problem by asking focused questions about what you need to know. Asking what specific questions you need to answer sets clear goals for your research. Other concerns like formatting or publication come later in the process. More guidance at .
Which technique is often used during the Information Seeking Strategies step to narrow down search results?
Peer review
Bibliography scanning
Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT)
Keyword highlighting
Boolean operators like AND, OR, and NOT help refine search results by combining or excluding terms. This technique is a core part of planning effective search strategies. It reduces irrelevant hits and focuses on precise topics. For more, see .
If you encounter a paywalled article during the Location & Access step, what is the best immediate action?
Give up on that source
Seek alternative access routes such as interlibrary loan or open access platforms
Assume a summary will suffice
Skip to the next step
When an article is paywalled, best practice is to find alternative access through interlibrary loan, open access repositories, or contacting authors. This ensures you retrieve the full content you need. Abandoning or skipping may miss critical information. See strategies at .
Which activity is most closely associated with the Use of Information step?
Evaluating source credibility
Defining the information problem
Creating an outline
Taking notes and highlighting key details
Use of Information focuses on engaging with content through reading, note-taking, highlighting, and extracting relevant data. These actions prepare you for later synthesis. Creating an outline comes during Synthesis, and credibility checks occur in Evaluation. For more, visit .
Which tool is commonly used in the Synthesis step to organize research findings?
Boolean search
Peer review
Graphic organizer
Citation management software
Graphic organizers - such as mind maps, charts, and outlines - help structure information logically in the Synthesis step. They provide a visual framework for connecting ideas. Citation tools assist with referencing but do not organize content structure. Learn more at .
What does the Evaluation step primarily assess?
Quality of both the research process and the final product
Length of the report
Number of sources used
Cost of research materials
Evaluation focuses on judging how well you followed each step and the effectiveness of your final product. It goes beyond counting sources or measuring length. Cost considerations are external factors. For a deeper dive, see .
Which option is NOT part of effectively using information in the Use of Information step?
Creating keywords
Summarizing findings
Quoting with citation
Paraphrasing information
Creating keywords happens during Information Seeking Strategies, not during Use of Information. The Use step includes paraphrasing, quoting, summarizing, and note-taking. Mixing up tasks can lead to disorganized workflow. More info at .
You're researching renewable energy. Which Information Seeking Strategy is most effective to find scholarly articles?
Checking random blogs
Browsing social media
Searching academic databases using relevant subject-specific keywords
Performing a general web search
Academic databases are curated for scholarly content and provide filters for peer-reviewed articles, making them ideal for in-depth research. General web searches may return unreliable sources. Social media and blogs lack academic rigor. For strategies, see .
You notice two sources provide conflicting data in the Use of Information step. What is the best next action?
Choose the first one you found
Evaluate source credibility and seek additional sources to resolve discrepancies
Average the data points
Ignore one of the sources
When data conflict, you should assess each source's authority, currency, and purpose, then look for more evidence to clarify. Ignoring or averaging undermines accuracy. Selecting without evaluation risks misinformation. Guidance on credibility at .
During Synthesis, which practice helps avoid plagiarism while incorporating source material?
Paraphrasing without citation
Paraphrasing in your own words and citing the source
Using only images instead of text
Copying exact sentences without changes
Effective synthesis requires you to paraphrase source material accurately and provide citations, which both demonstrates understanding and gives credit. Copying verbatim or paraphrasing without citation constitutes plagiarism. Learn best practices at .
If your evaluation reveals your research question is too broad, which Big6 step should you revisit?
Task Definition
Use of Information
Synthesis
Location & Access
A broad research question indicates that the initial Task Definition step needs refinement to narrow scope. Revisiting Task Definition helps you specify objectives and key terms. Use, synthesis, and location steps depend on a clear question. Read more at .
Which option represents a specialized source you might use in the Location & Access step when conducting historical research?
Archival documents in a special collections library
Commercial blog post
Internet forum discussion
Wikipedia article
Archival documents provide original, primary historical material invaluable for in-depth research. Wikipedia and blogs are secondary or tertiary sources with variable reliability. Forums are informal and rarely authoritative. For archival research methods, see .
Which citation style is typically used in the Use of Information step for social science research?
APA
Chicago
Turabian
MLA
APA (American Psychological Association) style is commonly used in social sciences to format citations and references. It provides guidelines for in-text citations and reference lists. MLA is favored in humanities, while Chicago and Turabian serve other contexts. See .
In advanced database searches during Location & Access, limiting a search to the title field can improve what aspect of your search results?
Number of citations
Font size of articles
Length of the abstract
Relevance of retrieved documents
Restricting search terms to titles often yields more focused and relevant results because titles typically reflect the core topic. This reduces noise from articles that merely mention keywords in passing. Other fields like abstracts can still include irrelevant context. See database tips at .
During the Evaluation step, which type of reflection assesses how efficiently you completed each Big6 step?
Product evaluation
Peer evaluation
Process evaluation
Self-assessment
Process evaluation focuses on how effectively and efficiently you carried out each stage of the research process. Product evaluation examines the final output. Peer evaluation involves others' feedback, while self-assessment is a broader personal reflection. For a breakdown, see .
How does the Big6 Research Model differ from Kuhlthau's Information Search Process in its primary focus?
It centers on collaborative team-based learning
It emphasizes explicit task-oriented steps rather than emotions during research
It only applies to digital information environments
It focuses mainly on researchers' emotional experiences
Big6 outlines concrete task-based steps for solving information problems, whereas Kuhlthau's model highlights the affective (feelings), cognitive, and physical stages of the search process. Big6 is action-oriented and prescriptive. Kuhlthau provides insight into researcher emotions and uncertainties. For comparison, see .
Which critical consideration should be added to the Information Seeking Strategies step in the context of AI-driven search engines?
Evaluating algorithmic bias and filter bubbles
Always trusting top-ranked results
Ignoring source metadata
Using only paid databases
AI-driven search engines can introduce biases and filter bubbles that influence which results are shown. Recognizing and adjusting for these biases is essential when planning search strategies. Blindly trusting rankings may lead to skewed or incomplete information. For more, see .
When evaluating a Wikipedia article in the Use of Information step, which criterion is most crucial?
Reviewing its popularity metrics
Checking the article's word count
Verifying information against credible primary sources
Counting the number of external links
Verifying content against authoritative primary sources ensures accuracy and reliability when using Wikipedia. External link counts or popularity do not guarantee factual correctness. Cross-referencing with original materials protects against errors or bias. Learn about source evaluation at .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Define Research Questions -

    Apply the big6 research model to frame precise and answerable research questions that guide your investigation from the outset.

  2. Identify Relevant Sources -

    Locate and select diverse, high-quality materials - such as databases, books, and websites - as practiced in our big 6 research model quiz.

  3. Evaluate Source Credibility -

    Assess the reliability, authority, and relevance of information according to the big six research model standards to ensure trustworthy research.

  4. Organize and Synthesize Information -

    Structure and integrate your findings systematically to build coherent insights that support your research goals.

  5. Reflect and Refine Your Strategy -

    Analyze your research process to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses, then adjust your approach for more efficient outcomes in future projects.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Mnemonic for the Big6 Research Model -

    Use the catchy acronym "TPLUSE" (Task, Plan, Locate, Use, Synthesize, Evaluate) to recall every step of the big6 research model effortlessly. Memorize a phrase like "Tom Plays Little Ukuleles Sunday Evenings" for extra flair. According to Eisenberg & Berkowitz, this kind of mnemonic boosts long-term retention of research workflows.

  2. Define Your Task with Precision -

    In Step 1 of the Big6, distill your research question by applying the "Five W's" (Who, What, When, Where, Why) to focus scope and select strong keywords. For instance, instead of "climate change," narrow down to "impacts of ocean acidification on coral reefs." University of North Carolina guidelines show that clear task definitions save up to 30% of later searching time.

  3. Strategize Your Sources -

    During Step 2, brainstorm diverse sources - academic journals, government sites, and interviews - to compare perspectives and ensure depth. Create a quick table of "Primary vs. Secondary" sources to visualize where your answers might live. Stanford Libraries research tips emphasize that plotting source types in advance increases search efficiency.

  4. Master Search Operators and Note-Taking -

    Steps 3 & 4 use Boolean operators like AND/OR/NOT (e.g., "energy AND efficiency NOT solar") to filter results quickly in databases. Pair this with the Cornell note-taking system - cue column for keywords, notes area for details, summary at the bottom - to organize findings. Cornell University research guides report that structured notes raise comprehension and recall by 25%.

  5. Synthesize Findings and Evaluate Rigorously -

    In Steps 5 & 6, turn your organized notes into outlines or reports, weaving in evidence with clear citations for credibility. Then apply the CRAAP test (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose) from Cal State Chico Library to rate each source's reliability. This final evaluation step closes the loop, ensuring your big six research model output is both accurate and persuasive.

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