Lesson 3 of 3
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What Is Information Literacy?
Types of Information Needs
7 min 3 quiz questions
Not all information needs are the same. Recognizing what kind of information you need — and why — is the first step toward finding the right source.
Four Types of Information Needs
- Current Information — Up-to-date facts about recent events (news, statistics, current research)
- Background Information — Context and overview of a topic (encyclopedias, textbooks)
- In-Depth Information — Detailed analysis and comprehensive coverage (books, dissertations, journal articles)
- Specific Facts — Precise data points (almanacs, databases, government records)
Common Mistake
Many students default to Google for all information needs. While Google is useful for quick facts, it is not always the best tool for academic research, historical context, or verified statistics. Match your tool to your need.
Formulating a Research Question
A strong research question is specific, researchable, and meaningful. Avoid questions that are too broad ("What is climate change?") or too narrow ("What was the temperature in New York on June 5, 2019?").
- Too broad: "How does technology affect education?"
- Better: "How has the use of AI tutoring tools affected reading comprehension scores in grades 3–5 between 2020 and 2025?"
- Too narrow: "What year was the first iPad released?"
- Better: "How did the introduction of tablets in K–12 classrooms between 2010 and 2015 change student engagement in STEM subjects?"
Ready to test your knowledge?
Take the quiz to complete this lesson. You need 70% to pass.