Info pros have always worked through a mental checklist when they decide what resources to use for a given research project. “Should I use that fee-based service and pay, or should I see if I can find something similar in free sources, even if it takes me longer to find?”With the proliferation of high-quality content in open access sources and the introduction of paywalls on reliable news sources, the old free-vs-free calculation no longer serves us. Here are the questions I ask myself today when considering which resources to use.
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How much is at stake with this project? Is this a “get me smart on this topic” or “I am making a strategic decision and need information” request? The more at risk, the more important it is to use sources I trust.
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What resources do I need to help me prepare for a good search? What background research do I need to conduct first?
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What do I need to do with the results of my search in order to add value? Do I need information in a particular format or medium?
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Who is likely to care about this topic — a government agency? a think tank? a trade publication? a professional association?
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What does this client consider “authoritative”? Where is that type of information found?
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How complex a topic is this? Search engines and other free finding tools may not support queries that involve multiple facets or require advanced filters.
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Where can I find clues or pointers to other resources? Where are experts likely to be quoted or resources shared?
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How dynamic is this subject? Should I be looking for information from 10 years ago in scholarly publications, or in this week’s social media posts?
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Will the material I pull together be shared with others? Are there copyright licensing concerns?
What other criteria do you use to decide which type of information resource to go to?
Great list to consider in addition to the time factor. Thanks, Mary Ellen!