1 / 22

The Reference Process

This resource provides a step-by-step process for satisfying information needs, from receiving a user's request to communicating an answer or identifying helpful tools. Learn techniques for conducting searches, selecting answers, and negotiating queries. Understand the given and wanted components of reference queries and how to identify negotiable queries. Discover effective negotiation techniques to ensure a successful reference interaction.

isabellegutierrez
Download Presentation

The Reference Process

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Reference Process IS 530 Fall 2005 Dr. D. Bilal

  2. Reference Service • Aims at satisfying specific recurrent information needs. • A series of decision-making steps • from receipt of a user’s request to communication of an answer or tools that may provide the answer

  3. The Reference Process • Techniques and approaches to answer questions may vary. • Process of satisfying an information need has common principles regardless of age.

  4. The Reference Process • Steps • Query receipt • Query message • Decision to negotiate or not negotiate the query • Thinking of types of answer-providing tools • Thinking of appropriate Titles within tools

  5. The Reference Process • Translation of query into the language of the system(s) used • Conducting a search • Selecting the answer or guide to sources that may provide the answer • Soliciting feedback and renegotiate, if necessary

  6. Query Message • Each reference query contains at least 2 components: • the subject (the given) • the information needed about the subject (the wanted) • Example:What is the boiling point of water? • Given: Water • Wanted: Boiling point

  7. Class Activity Identify the “given” and “wanted” of each query: 1. What is the average life span of African-American women in the U.S.? 2. What does ALA stand for? 3. What vegetable contains the highest amount in vitamin C?

  8. Descriptors for the Given • Abbreviation • Organization (named) • Person (named) • Place (named) • Term or subject • Specific publication

  9. Descriptors for the Wanted • Date • Illustration • Numeric information • measurements, counts, etc. • Organization • Person • Address/location

  10. Descriptors for the Wanted • Publication: • A citation (known vs. unknown item) • A document location • Textual information • Definition

  11. Descriptors for the Wanted • Recommendation • Review, product, book • Background information on a topic

  12. Brainstorming Question Why do users submit questions that require negotiation?

  13. Taylor’s 4 Levels of Need Q1- Visceral need: the information need is present but has not been consciously expressed within the individual’s mind. The user experiences a vague feeling of uneasiness that he/she know something that he/she does not know.

  14. Taylor’s 4 Levels of Need Q2- Conscious need: the user recognizes the information need. The need is translated into a formal statement in the user’s mind. Q3 - Formalized need: the need is described in concrete terms and expressed to the information professional, if this route is taken in seeking a solution.

  15. Taylor’s 4 Levels of Need • Q4- Compromised need: the query asked may be modified according to the user’s expectations of the library and information professional. • If the user asks the question at stage 1 or 2, or when he/she has not clearly defined the need, the query will most likely be vague and will, therefore, require negotiation.

  16. Identification of Negotiable Queries • Queries with subject that are not recognized by the information professional or by the requestor. • Queries that are ambiguous or incomplete. • Queries that do not identify the amount of information needed.

  17. Identification of Negotiable Queries • Queries that do not indicate the level of answer needed. • Queries that do not indicate language, time period, place, or type of publication needed. Remember that not all queries have answers in the literature.

  18. Negotiation Techniques • Use open-ended questions in the initial stages of the interview. • Use closed questions toward the end of the interview. • Be objective about the subject of the query. • Encourage patron to discuss his/her information need.

  19. Negotiation Techniques • Give the patron your full attention. • Make the patron feel at ease. • Follow the patron’s train of thought. • Keep eye contact with the patron. • Pay attention to the patron’s nonverbal cues.

  20. Negotiation Techniques • Summarize/paraphrase the patron’s query to ensure mutual understanding. • Do not be too quick to determine that the query cannot be answered. • Do not interrupt the patron while discussing his/her information need.

  21. Negotiation Techniques • Open-ended questions begin with words such as: • when, where, how, who, what • Closed questions usually give a choice between two possibilities: • yes or no

  22. Class Activity Identify whether these queries require negotiation. What kind of questions would you ask for those that require negotiation? 1. What is the mailing address of the Library of Congress? 2. Do you have anything on technology? 3. Where is the farmer’s almanac? 4. Do you have a fiction section? 5. I need a list of Hemingway’s novels and the publication date of each. 6. Do you know how to address a congressman? 7. Do you have articles about how to use the Internet?

More Related