INFORMATION SEARCH

INFORMATION SEARCH
PROCESS
PROCESS
(ISP)
(ISP)

The information search process(ISP) is a six-
stage process of information seeking behavior in
library and information scicence:

Stage 1-Initiation

Stage -Selection

Stage !-"xploration

Stage #-$orm%lation

Stage &-'ollection

Stage (-Search clos%re

ST)*" 1-I+ITI)TI,+
-%ring the first stage.the information seeker recogni/es the need for ne0
information to complete an assignment1
ST)*" -S"2"'TI,+
In the second stage.the individ%al begins to decide 0hat topic 0ill be
investigated and ho0 to proceed1

ST)*" !-"3P2,4)TI,+
In the third stage.information on the topic is gathered and a ne0 personal
kno0ledge is created1
ST)*" #-$,4562)TI,+
-%ring the fo%rth stage.the information seeker starts to eval%ate the information
that has been gathered1 )t this point. a foc%sed perspective begins to form and
there is not as m%ch conf%sion and %ncertainty as in earlier stages1

ST)*" &-',22"'TI,+
-%ring the fifth stage.the information seeker kno0s 0hat is needed to s%pport
the foc%s1
ST)*" (-S")4'7 '2,S64"
In the sixth and final stage.the individ%al has completed the information
search1The information seeker 0ill s%mmari/e and report on the information that
0as fo%nd thro%gh the process1