Kuhlthau's+Information+Process

Check out this page for a great explanation on Kuhlthau's Model of the Stages of Information Process.

The following grid was copied and pasted from http://library.humboldt.edu/~ccm/fingertips/kuhlthau.html

**C**omprehending Task **R**elating prior experience and learning **C**onsidering possible topics || **A**pprehension at work ahead **U**ncertainty || **T**alking with others **B**rowsing the Library || **B**rainstorming **D**iscussing **C**ontemplating possible topics **T**olerating uncertainty || research || **W**eighing topics against criteria of personal interest, project requirements, information available, and time allotted **P**redicting outcome of possible choices **C**hoosing topic with potential for success || **C**onfusion <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**S**ometimes Anxiety <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**B**rief elation after selection <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**A**nticipation of prospective task || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**C**onsulting with informal mediators <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**M**aking preliminary search of library <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**U**sing reference collection || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**D**iscussing possible topics <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**P**redicting outcome of choices <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**U**sing general sources for overview of possible topics || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**S**eeking focus in information on general topic <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**I**dentifying several possible focuses <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**I**nability to express precise information needed || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**C**onfusion <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**D**oubt <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**S**ometimes threat <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**U**ncertainty || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**L**ocating relevant information <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**R**eading to become informed <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**T**aking notes on facts and ideas <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**M**aking bibliographic citations || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**R**eading to learn about topic **T**olerating inconsistency and incompatibility of information encountered <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**I**ntentionally seeking possible focuses <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**L**isting descriptors || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**U**sing criteria of personal interest, requirements of assignment, availability of materials, and time allotted <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**I**dentifying ideas in information from which to formulate focus <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**S**ometimes characterized by a sudden moment of insight || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**O**ptimism <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**C**onfidence in ability to complete task || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**R**eading notes for themes || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**M**aking a survey of notes <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**L**isting possible foci <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**C**hoosing a particular focus while discarding others, or <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**C**ombining several themes to form one focus || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**D**efining and extending focus through information <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**G**athering pertinent information <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**O**rganizing information in notes || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**R**ealization of extensive work to be done <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**C**onfidence in ability to complete task <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**I**ncreased interest || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**U**sing library collect pertinent information <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**R**equesting specific sources from librarian <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**T**aking detailed notes with bibliographic citations || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**U**sing descriptors to search out pertinent information <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**M**aking comprehensive search of various types of materials, i.e., reference, periodicals, nonfiction, and biography <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**U**sing indexes <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**R**equesting assistance of librarian ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Task || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Thoughts || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Feelings || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Actions || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Strategies ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">To prepare for the decision of selecting a topic || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**C**ontemplating assignment
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Stage 2 -- Topic Selection **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Task || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Thoughts || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Feelings || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Actions || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Strategies ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">To decide on topic for
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Stage 3 -- Prefocus Exploration **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Task || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Thoughts || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Feelings || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Actions || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Strategies ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">To investigate information with the intent of finding a focus || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**B**ecoming informed about general topic
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Stage 4 -- Focus Formulation **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Task || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Thoughts || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Feelings || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Actions || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Strategies ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">To formulate a focus from the information encountered || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**P**redicting outcome of possible foci
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Stage 5 -- Information Collection **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Task || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Thoughts || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Feelings || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Actions || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Strategies ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">To gather information that defines, extends and supports the focus || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**S**eeking information to support focus
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Stage 6 -- Search Closure **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**C**onsidering time limit <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**D**iminishing relevance <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**I**ncreasing redundancy <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**E**xhausting resources || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**S**ense of relief <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**S**ometimes satisfaction <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**S**ometimes disappointment || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**R**echecking sources for information initially overlooked <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**C**onfirming information and bibliographic citations || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**R**eturning to library to make summary search <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**K**eeping books until completion of writing to recheck information || Kuhlthau, Carol C. __Seeking Meaning:__ __A Process Approach to Library and Information Services.__ Norwood, N.J.: Ablex Publishing Corp., 1993, pp.45-51 [Used with permission of the Author]
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Task || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Thoughts || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Feelings || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Actions || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">Strategies ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">To conclude search for information || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">**I**dentifying need for any additional information