The Florida Research Process Model: FINDS

 

Focus on the information need.   What is my assignment or the information problem to be solved?  What are my questions and/or thesis sentence?    What types of information will be needed?    How will I organize my search plan?    What keywords and alternate search terms would be best for my topic?   What search terminology and techniques should I use?

 

Investigate resources to look for an answer.  What criteria should I use to evaluate and select the information sources?   Where are the sources located and what information does each source provide?   Where is the information within each source and how do I locate it?   What problems am I having in finding information and how do I solve these problems?   How can I find what I need and respect the rights of others to equal access to information?

 

Note and evaluate facts.   What criteria should I use to evaluate the information I found?  Does the information I found relate to my topic and questions?   How do I take notes so that they are in my own words?   Which facts do I need to create a citation for each source?  Do I have facts from all points of view on my topic?  Do I have the information I need and is my research complete?

 

Develop information into knowledge for presentation.  How should I present the information to best share what I learned with others?  How do I organize the notes for my final presentation?  Have I analyzed and used the information effectively?  Are my conclusions based on the research evidence?  How do I organize my citations into a bibliography and what format will I use?  How do I integrate technology to enrich, publish, or present my project?

 

Score presentation and search.  What criteria will I use to judge my product?  Did I present the information in the best way?  Was my research process efficient and effective?  How could I improve my search process next time?

 

K-12 Charts

• FINDS – Focus K-12 (PDF)

• FINDS – Investigate K-12 (PDF)

• FINDS – Note and Evaluate K-12 (PDF)

• FINDS – Develop K-12 (PDF)

• FINDS – Score K-12 (PDF)

Grade-Level Charts

• FINDS – Kindergarten (PDF)

• FINDS – First Grade (PDF)

• FINDS – Second Grade (PDF)

• FINDS – Third Grade (PDF)

• FINDS – Fourth Grade (PDF)

• FINDS – Fifth Grade (PDF)

• FINDS – Sixth Grade (PDF)

• FINDS - Seventh Grade (PDF)

• FINDS – Eighth Grade (PDF)