Deconstructing the search process – Topic: Indian Casinos
K = what is already Known; W = What the searcher wants to know; H = How will the searcher find out; L = what has been Learned in the process	

PROCESS STEP	ACTION VERBS	PRODUCT	EXAMPLE	
identify information need (may be broad or focused at this stage)

Information need	identify, choose	preliminary topic	Indian casinos 
	
mind mapping
(structured brainstorming)

K	describe, list, name, identify, specify, relate	chart showing related concepts and possible avenues for exploration	                                   
Indians of       social conditions      casinos and their effects                                                                                                                                                                                                      
No. Am.          incl. poverty             on reservation life, on     
                                                 individuals      	
research background information, definitions, etc., if needed
W	locate, select, generalize, expand, define	facts to fill knowledge gaps and/or identify possible areas for further exploration	Encyclopedia of Rural America, article on “American Indians” (encyclopedia); The Rez Road Follies: Canoes, Casinos, Computers, and Birch Bark Baskets (book); Indian Gaming Magazine <http://www.igmagazine.com>; National Indian Gaming Commission <http://www.nigc.gov/>	
preliminary focus

W 	select, choose, identify, decide, express	first draft of research focus	Indian casinos in California and their effects on Indians’ lives on the reservations, especially employment	
main ideas or concepts (who, what, when, where, why) and synonyms

H	describe, list, select, identify, separate, decide, choose	preliminary list of search terms	•	gambling industry
•	Indian gaming, especially casinos
•	employment on Indian reservations; casino developers and  casino workers
•	Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (federal)	
consider potential info sources

H	select, list, identify, choose, evaluate	preliminary list of print, electronic or person-to-person (email, interviews, etc.) info sources	talk with friends who have been to Indian casinos; explore print, online, and Web resources; email some questions to an American Indian associated with casino development, or an American Indian casino worker	
research preliminary focus using main ideas/concepts or synonyms as search terms
H	locate, select, choose, expand, relate, evaluate	list of preliminary sources for draft focus	•	“Gambling in America” (CQ Researcher) 7 March  2003 
•	Native American Tribal Gambling -- chapter six of National Gambling Impact Study Commission Final Report, 1999
<http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/ngisc/reports/6.pdf >	
consider intended use/audience; time or cost considerations
H	factor, consider, plan, sequence, project	define intended audience or use; prepare timeline for research	research paper for a college course; presentation to class as PowerPoint, thus content is addressed to fellow students; project is due end of the semester; timeline for tasks: ________________	
refine preliminary focus

L	select, choose, expand, evaluate, decide, complete, express	focused topic/question	Have Indians in California made significant economic gains due to the growth of casinos on reservations since the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988?  If yes, in what major ways?  If not, why not?	

5/18/05