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What is QUEST?

QUEST is an acronym to help students learn  research skills. Please scroll down.  
Questions Establishing some starting questions for research is our first step. One helpful skill at this stage is to distinguish between broad and narrow questions. The size or depth of our questions determines the scope of our research.

Write a "small" narrow research question that only has 1or 2 possible answers and then try to re-write it so the answer would require a longer explanation. Adjust the "size" of your question to the scope of your research. Examples.

(Instead of thinking of the "size" of the question, you may want to think about the word "depth." Does your question have the right amount of depth to it so that you will investigate a sufficient amount of details, complexities or perspectives about your subject? Or is your question only touching the surface?)
Use available resources We usually start our research with examining encyclopedias (book or online encyclopedias). Then we move on to books, periodicals, vertical files and websites. We usually start our research with resources that contain mostly factual material and then move on to sources that contain more opinion. (Interviews with people are not usually required, but getting a person to interview as one of your resources may be worth the effort.)

Check out the QUEST Toolbox for online resources.

One skill that is necessary at this stage is the ability to build a keywords search list. Keywords are the words you search with.  Without keywords your research will be a  frustrating experience.

It is important that you write a list of search words or keywords to use before you start searching!

If you can't find enough resources-switch subjects.
Evaluate your resources  

Another important skill is the ability to evaluate how useful the source is. We need to ask the following questions to evaluate the source:

 

1. Is the information accurate and up to date?
2. Is the information presented clearly and in an organized way?
3. Is the information complete?
4. Is the source easy to use?
5. What clues are there to say that the author is knowledgeable about the subject?
6. Does the source contain mostly facts or opinions?
7. Is the source a primary or secondary source?
 

     

Go to the following web site and evaluate it by asking the above questions. BareFactsPage.com

Make sure you understand the difference between fact and opinion.
Strategy and Sequence Research Strategies: At our school we use the Thea Holtan strategy for note-taking and writing research papers. (Even if you don't use the Thea Holtan method, you should still have an overall strategy to map out your research assignment.)

Our teachers recommend having a checklist so you have a sequence to follow. Click on "Research Strategies" for a basic sequence to follow.

Reading Strategies: Our school also emphasizes reading strategies. Click on "Reading Strategies" for help with your reading when doing research.

Internet Search Strategies: Continue using your keywords but also try using some additional search techniques. For example:

1. Use quotation marks. Ex. "bear" instead of  bear .

2. Place the words "fact", "facts", or "information" after your original keyword (with or without quote marks). Ex. "bear facts", deer information.

3. Don't forget the letter "s." Ex. "elk herd"--> "elk herds."

4. Find more synonyms. Ex. "venison" instead of deer-meat.

5. Try Boolean search terms: and, or, and not. Ex. "venison recipes" or "deer recipes."

Also check out the search tips at American Memory.

Don't forget to check your spelling!

Warning! What is plagiarism?
Transformation of information