big 6 research

Research Process: The Big 6

• Step #1 : Task Definition
• Step #2 : Information Seeking Strategies
• Step #3 : Location and Access
• Step #4 : Use of Information
• Step #5 : Synthesis
• Step #6 : Evaluation
• Helpful Videos
• How to Identify Resource Types
• Database Tutorials (Videos)
• What is Boolean Searching?
• Evaluating Websites
• Citing Sources
• How to Avoid Plagiarism

Check the pages above for each Step of the Big6 to get a further explanation of the process.

The “Big6™” is copyright © (1987) Michael B. Eisenberg and Robert E. Berkowitz. For more information, visit: www.big6.com

Overview of Big6 Process

Developed by Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz, the Big6 is the most widely known and widely used approach to teaching information and technology skills in the world. Used in thousands of K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and corporate and adult training programs, the Big6 information problem-solving model is applicable whenever people need and use information.

Big Six Steps

Following these steps will help you to focus and stay organized while doing your research. 1. Task Definition

• Define your assignment & identify information needed to complete it.
• Restate the assignment in your own words. What are you interested in learning?
• Gather basic information about your topic by reading articles, web pages etc.
• Talking with teachers/parents/librarians is also helpful.

2. Information Seeking Strategies

• Make a list of all possible sources & select the best ones.
• Choose from nonfiction, news articles, reference books, web pages, databases, ebooks and multimedia encyclopedias.

3. Location and Access

• Locate sources & find information within the texts.
• Consult the library catalog, library reference section, search engines, and web-based references
• Use a graphic organizer to map out your topic and sub topics

4. Use of Information

• Engage with your source: read, hear, view & extract the most valuable information
• Use skimming and scanning to find information that addresses your topic.
• Look for key words, pictures, read headlines and first & last paragraphs of articles to help find the “right” information.
• Take notes – cite your source on your note card 
• Summarize, paraphrase or quote.
• Remember to cite each source you use. Use EasyBib

5. Synthesis

• Choose the format of your project and organize your research notes according to how you will share the information.
• If your format is a paper, begin by writing an outline.
• If you are producing a PowerPoint or multi-media presentation, categorize your main bullet points and images. Different formats require different types of organization.
• Present the information effectively by practicing and knowing your audience.

6. Evaluation

• Judge the product (effectiveness). 
• Judge the process (efficiency).
• Did you meet your objective?
• Judge the quality of your work.
• Next, judge the quality of your presentation.
• You can use criteria such as accuracy, content, creativity and legibility.

Big6 Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz.

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The Research Process: The Big 6

• Step #1 : Task Definition
• Step #2 : Information Seeking Strategies
• Step #3 : Location and Access
• Step #4 : Use of Information
• Step #5 : Synthesis
• Step #6 : Evaluation
• Helpful Videos
• Why Use Library Databases?
• Boolean and Advanced Searching
• Evaluating Websites
• Citing Sources
• How to Avoid Plagiarism

Check the pages above for each Step of the Big6 to get a further explanation of the process.

The “Big6™” is copyright © (1987) Michael B. Eisenberg and Robert E. Berkowitz. For more information, visit: www.big6.com

Overview of Big6 Process

Developed by Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz, the Big6 is the most widely known and widely used approach to teaching information and technology skills in the world. Used in thousands of K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and corporate and adult training programs, the Big6 information problem-solving model is applicable whenever people need and use information.

Conducting Research Interactive Site

• Conducting Research This interactive website presents a colorful step-by-step guide to conducting research.

Big Six Steps

Following these steps will help you to focus and stay organized while doing your research. 1. Task Definition

• Define your assignment & identify information needed to complete it.
• Restate the assignment in your own words. What are you interested in learning?
• Gather basic information about your topic by reading articles, web pages etc.
• Talking with teachers/parents/librarians is also helpful.

2. Information Seeking Strategies

• Make a list of all possible sources & select the best ones.
• Choose from nonfiction, news articles, reference books, web pages, databases, ebooks and multimedia encyclopedias.

3. Location and Access

• Locate sources & find information within the texts.
• Consult the library catalog, library reference section, search engines, and web-based references
• Use a graphic organizer to map out your topic and sub topics

4. Use of Information

• Engage with your source: read, hear, view & extract the most valuable information
• Use skimming and scanning to find information that addresses your topic.
• Look for key words, pictures, read headlines and first & last paragraphs of articles to help find the “right” information.
• Take notes – cite your source on your note card 
• Summarize, paraphrase or quote.
• Remember to cite each source you use. Use EasyBib

5. Synthesis

• Choose the format of your project and organize your research notes according to how you will share the information.
• If your format is a paper, begin by writing an outline.
• If you are producing a PowerPoint or multi-media presentation, categorize your main bullet points and images. Different formats require different types of organization.
• Present the information effectively by practicing and knowing you audience

6. Evaluation

• Judge the product (effectiveness). 
• Judge the process (efficiency).
• Did you meet your objective?
• Judge the quality of your work.
• Next, judge the quality of your presentation.
• You can use criteria such as accuracy, content, creativity and legibility.

Big6 Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz.

Research Organizer

Fill out Big6 #1-5 before you begin to work on your assignment.
Fill out Big6 #6 before you turn in your assignment.
the page.
Name:
Today's date:
Class:

Determine a purpose and need for information—What am I supposed to do?

What information do I need in order to do this? (Consider listing in question form.)
You will most likely find interesting additional information as you use the resources. List below information that you feel you need to know at this time.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Examine alternative approaches to acquiring information. List the best sources to find this information. Don't forget traditional print and human sources as appropriate.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

If using web sites, who will evaluate them for relevancy, accuracy, and authority?
	I will use only those evaluated by and provided by my teachers or librarian, including the databases to which the school subscribes
	I will find free web sites and use a web site evaluation guide for each that I use in my project

Locate sources and access the information within them—Where will I locate these sources?
	school library
	public or university library
	personal library
	provided by my teachers
	Internet
	other:

If using a search engine list likely key words.

Use a source to gain information—How will I record the information that I find?
	take notes using cards or electronic note cards
	take notes on notebook paper
	take notes using a word processor
	illustrate concepts
	use a tape recorder, video, or digital camera
	other:

How will I give credit to my sources?
	use the LibGuide for information on citing sources and preparing a Works Cited or Bibliography page
	Go straight to NoodleBib

Integrate information from a variety of sources—How will I show my results?
	written paper
	oral presentation See Presentation Guidelines
	multimedia presentation
	performance
	other:

How will I give credit to my sources in my final product or performance?
	include a written bibliography
	after the performance or presentation, announce which sources I used
	other:

Materials I will need for my presentation or performance (list, separating by commas)

How much time do I estimate it will take to find the information and create the product?

Timeline for assignment
Ideas for project (task definition) completed by:
Information searching (note taking) completed by:
First draft due:
Completed assignment due:
Include here any additional information needed to successfully complete the assignment:

Before turning in my assignment, I need to check off all of these items (on the printed Organizer):
	what I created to finish the assignment is appropriate for what I was supposed do in Big6 #1
	the information I found in Big6 #4 matches the information needed in Big6 #1
	credit is given to my sources, written in standard citation format
	I am in compliance of copyright laws and fair use guidelines
	my work is neat
	my work is complete and includes heading information (name, date, etc.)
	I would be proud for anyone to view this work
Big6™ copyright 1990, Michael Eisenberg and Robert Berkowitz. Modified version of   Big6™ Assignment Organizer copyright 1995  Used with permission.

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Research Process: RESEARCH & INQUIRY PROCESS: USING THE BIG 6

• RESEARCH & INQUIRY PROCESS: USING THE BIG 6
• Research & Inquiry Project Toolkit

THE BIG 6 RESEARCH & INQUIRY PROCESS

The Big 6 Research & Inquiry Process

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• Back to Minuteman HS Library Media Center Home Page

Overview of Big6 Process

Developed by Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz, the Big6 is the most widely known and widely used approach to teaching information and technology skills in the world. Used in thousands of K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and corporate and adult training programs, the Big6 information problem-solving model is applicable whenever people need and use information.

BIG 6 INFOGRAPHIC

Big 6 citation.

“The Big6.org copyright license 2018; original license for the Big6 is copyright © 1987 Michael B. Eisenberg and Robert E. Berkowitz. For more on the Big6, visit:  https://thebig6.org/ ”

Library Media Specialist

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• Last Updated: Jan 15, 2021 8:41 PM
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Frank E. Thompson Middle School Library: Research with the Big 6

• Using the Library
• Glossary Research Terms
• Share what you read W/ #BookSnaps!
• Award winning books
• Teacher Resources
• Clever Help
• Web 2.0 Tools
• Chromebook tips
• Social Studies

Big 6 Process

• Overview of the Big 6

Step 1: Task Definition

Step 2: information seeking strategies, step 3: location and access, step 4: use of information, step 5: synthesis.

• Step 6: Evaluation

One well known approach to teaching information literacy skills is the Big6, which was created by educators Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz.  Mike Eisenberg describes the Big6 as "an information and technology literacy model and curriculum, implemented in thousands of schools – K through higher education. Some people call the Big6 an information problem-solving strategy because with the Big6, students are able to handle any problem, assignment, decision or task".

Permissions for Use  The “Big6™” is copyright © (1987) Michael B. Eisenberg and Robert E. Berkowitz. For more information, visit: www.big6.com

• The Big6 Website This is the official Big6 website with information from the founders of this information literacy system.
• The Big6 and 21st Century Info Literacy Skills The matrix links the Big6 with the Standards for the 21st-Century Learner developed by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S).

1.1 Define the information problem

What does your teacher want you to do? Make sure you  understand  the requirements of the assignment.  Ask your teacher  to explain if the assignment seems vague or confusing. Restate the assignment in your own words and ask if you are correct.

1.2 Identify the information you need in order to complete the task (to solve the information problem)

What information do you need in order to do the assignment? Your teacher will often tell you what  information you need.  If he or she does not, it will help you to write a list of questions that you need to “look up.” Example: Let’s say the assignment is to write a paper and make a product about a notable African American. You choose Scott Joplin from the list that was provided by your teacher. She may or may not have told you why this person is notable. You need to figure out what information you need to find out about Scott Joplin. Here are some questions you may ask about him if you don’t know why he is notable:

• Why was Scott Joplin notable?
• When was he born and when did he die?
• Where was he born?
• Was his birthplace or childhood home any influence on his career?
• How did his childhood influence his adult life and his career choice?
• Who in his life were his influences or his role models?
• Why do we remember him now?
• What did he do that is an influence on my life or that of Americans today?

If your teacher told you that Scott Joplin is most noted for developing ragtime music, then you may add the questions:

• What is ragtime music?
• How did he develop ragtime music?
• What instruments did he play?
• Did he sing?

Of course, as you find information on Scott Joplin, you will use some that is not included in your original questions. Use these questions as a place to get started. You won’t waste as much time if you have a place to start.

The “Big6™” is copyright © (1987) Michael B. Eisenberg and Robert E. Berkowitz. For more information, visit: www.big6.com

Helpful Hint

It is a fact that  teachers don't like it when you don't listen in class and then ask a million questions  about the information they covered.

Teachers are ususally more than willing to help you, but  you need to make sure you have read everything they have given you about the assignment before you ask for help.

All good research starts with a plan.  Complete the  Research Organizer  to help get you off to a good start.  List or summarize your research path. Provide as much information as possible such as search terms you will use and the specific sources you will explore and why. Remember to print your page BEFORE you exit the page or you will lose all your information.

Afterwards, continue on with  The Information Cycle.

Fill out Big6 #1-5 you begin to work on your assignment.
Fill out Big6 #6 you turn in your assignment.
the page.
Name:
Today's date:
Class:

Determine a purpose and need for information—What am I supposed to do?

You will most likely find interesting additional information as you use the resources. List below information that you feel you need to know at this time.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Examine alternative approaches to acquiring information. List the best sources to find this information. Don't forget traditional print and human sources as appropriate.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

	I will use only those evaluated by and provided by my teachers or librarian, including the databases to which the school subscribes
	I will find free web sites and use a web site evaluation guide for each that I use in my project

Locate sources and access the information within them—Where will I locate these sources?
	school library
	public or university library
	personal library
	provided by my teachers
	Internet
	other:

Use a source to gain information—How will I record the information that I find?
	take notes using cards or electronic note cards
	take notes on notebook paper
	take notes using a word processor
	illustrate concepts
	use a tape recorder, video, or digital camera
	other:

	use the LibGuide for information on citing sources and preparing a Works Cited or Bibliography page
	Go straight to NoodleBib

Integrate information from a variety of sources—How will I show my results?
	written paper
	oral presentation See Presentation Guidelines
	multimedia presentation
	performance
	other:

	include a written bibliography
	after the performance or presentation, announce which sources I used
	other:

Ideas for project (task definition) completed by:
Information searching (note taking) completed by:
First draft due:
Completed assignment due:

Before turning in my assignment, I need to check off all of these items (on the printed Organizer):
	what I created to finish the assignment is appropriate for what I was supposed do in Big6 #1
	the information I found in Big6 #4 matches the information needed in Big6 #1
	credit is given to my sources, written in standard citation format
	I am in compliance of copyright laws and fair use guidelines
	my work is neat
	my work is complete and includes heading information (name, date, etc.)
	I would be proud for anyone to view this work
Big6™ copyright 1990, Michael Eisenberg and Robert Berkowitz. Modified version of Big6™ Assignment Organizer copyright 1995 Used with permission.

2.1 Determine the range of possible sources (brainstorm)

This means that you need to make a list of all the  possible sources  of information that will help you answer the questions you wrote in Task Definition above. Consider library books, encyclopedias, and web sites to which your library subscribes (ask your librarian!), people who are experts in your subject, observation of your subject, free web sites and survey.    

2.2 Evaluate the different possible sources to determine priorities (select the best sources)

Now, look carefully at your list. Which ones are actually  available  to you and are  understandable  when you begin researching? Using information that you don't understand generally leads to cutting and pasting and should be avoided unless you are willing to ask for help to sort it out.

Information Seeking Strategies  is just a fancy way to describe   how you look for information.   For instance, when you get an assignment, do you Google the topic and then simply go to the website that is at the top of the list? Do you go to Wikipedia first? These are information seeking strategies.

Some tools you may want to consider are:

Born Digital Photo or Image 

• It was created (e.g. digital camera, computer screen capture program, desktop scanner) in digital form for the Web
• Or you do not know where the image itself (not the place or object in it) is physically stored

Reference Source

Work of Visual Art

OPAC/Database

Getting Started What is the difference between a blog and a book?  Why does your history teacher prefer the academic  Journal of American History  to the popular magazine  People ?  Understanding how information sources differ in terms of authority, timeliness, accessibility, and changeability will help you to determine the correct information sources for your research project.  View the video to find out more about the roll blogs, books, journals, websites, and databases play in the  Information Cycle  of a news event. 

Watch the video The Information Cycle from The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Libraries

3.3 .1 Locate sources

Figure out  where  you will get these sources. Beside each source, write its location. If it is a web site, list its web address. Try to use those that your teacher or librarian have linked or bookmarked. This will save you time. If your source is a person, figure out how you will contact him or her and make a note of this. Now, you will actually get the sources. You may have to get and use them one at a time. If so, come back to this step to locate each source.

3.3 . 2  Find information within sources

Now that you have the source in hand, how will you physically get the information you need? (Remember the questions you wrote in Task Definition?) This all depends on the source.

A. First make a list of words that will help you find information in all of your sources. These are called  keywords.  They are like synonyms and related words to your topic.You can find many of these in the questions you wrote in Big6 Task Definition. Watch the video below to see  how you  would go about creating keywords.

B. Now make a list of the sourcess of information you will use. Beside each, note how you will access the information you need.

• Book:  Look at the  index  or  table of contents  for your topic and keywords
• Encyclopedia:  Use the  index volume  (usually the last volume in the set) for the topic and keywords.
• Databases  that are subscribed to by your library (such as Gale, Worldbook Online, etc.): type  topic and keywords  in the search box. Try them separately and some together. Ask your librarian for help if needed.
• Free web sites:  use  topic and keywords  in subject directories.

Location and access  means how and where you are going to find the information you need. If it is a book, do you own the book  or will you have to go to the library to borrow it?   If you found a website, once you are there,  do you know how to look for the information or section on your topic?    If our library doesn't have the book you need, do you know how to ask us to get it for you? When you are doing any or all of these things, you are completing Step 3 of the Big6.

• From Question to Keyword Watch the video (courtesy of University Libraries, University of North Carolina Greensboro)

Database records are organized using a variety of indexes such as author and subject but are keyword searchable as well. 

Databases are either subject specific such as World History in Context or content specific such as the newspaper and magazine database through EBSCO. 

Databases contain information that has been checked for the  ABC's  of authority & accuracy, bias, and content & currency. You can trust the information you find in databases, not like on the web or through Google searches. Sometimes it's accurate, but many times it isn't.     

4.1 Engage  with the source (re ad, listen, view, touch)

Most likely you will need to  read, listen or view  your source. You are looking for the information you need. You may not need to read, listen to, or view all of your source information. You may be able to skip around, finding subheadings and topic sentences (read the first sentences in each paragraph) that will take you to your information.

4.2 Take out the relevant information from a source

It’s time to take some notes.

Now that you have found your sources for your assignment,  this is the ste p where you read, wat ch, listen , and absorb all your information.   You will need to figure out a way to take notes and keep them organized. You also need to write down the sources you use so you won't be running around at the last minute trying to find "that big blue book with the picture on the front" in the library.  Your teachers may want you to use   NoodleBib   to help you keep your sources, notecards, and paper organized so check it out.

5.1 Organize information from multiple sources

Decide how you will put together the notes you took and ideas that you will add. You may:

•   Write a rough draft
• Create an outline
• Create a storyboard
• Make a sketch
• _______________ (any ideas?)

5. 2  Present the information

If your teacher assigns the product:

• Make sure that you follow your teacher’s guidelines.

Add value to the product by including your ideas along with the information you found in books, web sites, and other sources. Make sure that your final product or paper is more than just a summary of what you found in the other sources.

• Make a product or write a paper that you would be proud for anyone to read.
• Include a bibliography. This is an alphabetized list of your sources. See the citation page for help.

If you get to choose your final product:

• Decide which product will best suit your subject. You may give an oral presentation using  Google Slides  or write a paper. You may make a video or audio tape. Use technology if it is the best way to show the results of your information.

This step is all about deciding what you are going to do with the information you found.  Are you going to write a  paper, make a Slide Show, make a video or poster?  Some of this will depend upon your assignment and if the teacher wants a specific type of presentation. This is the time you need to think about what it is you are trying to say and the best way to get it across. The ability to clearly organize your ideas and present them is an important 21st Century Skill to develop.

Before turning in your assignment, compare it to the requirements that your teacher gave you.

• Did you do everything and include all that was required for the assignment?
• Did you give credit to all of your sources, written in the way your teacher requested?
• Is your work neat?
• Is your work complete and does it include heading information (name, date, etc.)
• Would you be proud for anyone to view this work?

6.1 Judge your i nformaton problem -solving process  (how eff icient  were you)

Think about the actions that you perform as you are working on this assignment. Did you learn some things that you can use again?

• What did you learn that you can use again?
• How will you use the skill(s) again?
• What did you do well this time?
• What would you do differently next time?
• What information sources did you find useful? You may be able to use them again.
• What information sources did you need but did not have? Be sure to talk to your librarian about getting them.

Did you ever?

Did you ever turn in an assignment and thought you did a great job only to get it back with a disappointing grade? It has happened to most of us. You wonder where you went wrong.

In this section, evaluation means looking closely at the assignment  you were given,the steps you took to find the information, and the actual writing or creation of the project  BEFORE   you turn it in.

This step in the Big6 will help you learn how to make sure the paper or project you turn in is the paper or project your teacher is looking for.

Need Some Help?

Need help with your paper? Ask your librarian!

Research Tips and Tools

• Boolean Search
• Searching the Internet
• Evaluating Websites

Using Primary Sources

• Facts about Plagiarism

Do You Need a Citation?

• Create a Bibliography
• How to Paraphrase
• Remembering What You Read

Getting Started AND, OR  & NOT are all words that link concepts together to improve searches when using search engines such as Google or databases such as EbscoHost.  These terms are associated with Irish mathematician George Boole, thus the term Boolean logic or Boolean searching.   

• To visualize how these terms work together to organize a search take a look at the Boolean Machine by Rockwell Schrock.

Boolean Search Demonstration

   

View this video , Boolean Operators: Pirates vs. Ninjas  about using Boolean searching.

Getting Started

Search engines search electronically whereas most search directories use human editors to exclude irrelevant sites and include beneficial ones.  Wikis invite contributers to write and edit articles mostly without authoriship.  Understanding the pluses and minuses of each of these search tools will help you to determine when they are appropriate to use for particular high school research assignments.

Explore information in the Search Engines, Search Directories, and Wiki boxes and read the following tips. 

Tips For Using Search Engines:

• Search engines are best when searching for specific things such as “revolutionary war diaries” as opposed to the more general “war”
• Use specific academic terms such as “climate change”
• Use exact phrases such as “research on medical marijuana”
• Go to Advanced Search tools to refine searches

Tips For Using Search Directories:

• Read the annotations (summaries of sites written by directory editors) for your top results to see if you are on the right track
• Browse subject categories
• Keep search terms broad
• Check sites for searching tips as all directories are organized differently
• View the   video   IPL Information You Can Trus t   to learn about this search directory .

Tips for Using Wikis:

• Read about the wiki you are using to see how it is managed and organized.  For example, Wikipedia relies on a vast number of dedicated volunteers to correct articles that don’t meet its standard for content neutrality (no bias or limited points of view) and verifiability. 
• FOR ACADEMIC RESEARCH always verify facts presented on a wiki with credible sources such as books. 
• Always check with your teacher to see if wikis are acceptable.  Most teachers will require credible verifiable sources for academic research. 

  Always evaluate websites  for information qualiy and reliability because anyone with a bit of knowledge about computers and the Internet   can put information on the World Wide Web. Academic research is different from personal research  because academic research requires current, correct, and well-documented information written by institutions/people who are authorities on their subjects.   Sites should be unbiased  UNLESS biased information is useful for a particular assignment. The World Wide Web is a place of business ,  and sites that want to sell products or services have a different purpose from sites that exist to educate

As Simple as ABC...

Use these  ABCs  as a guide to critically evaluate information on the Web.

1.      Authority Who or what organization is publishing the content?  Do they have the knowledge and expertise to publish information about this topic? This information is often found in the  About Us  or  Contact  section of a site.   

2.      Bias/Purpose Is this a commercial site that is trying to sell a service or a product or a site that exists primarily to educate? Does the publishing group and/or author have a bias?   Are there multiple points-of-view analyzed and expressed?   

3.      Content Does the content fit the research question/assignment? Is the information correct? Read background information about your topic from a reputable source such as a textbook or database first.   

4.      Currency Is there a publication or update date attached to the article or site? Look at the end of an entry or the bottom of a page.

The New Oxford American Dictionary  describes bias as:

“prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.” 

Sometimes it is easy to determine if a particular website is biased especially around a controversial issue, other times it can be extremely difficult to determine a site’s bias.  It is especially difficult to determine bias when an author does not state their credentials when posting an article on a website or a blog or when reviewing a site that uses a name that doesn’t give away its purpose.   

Here are some tips for determining bias:

1.    Go to the About Us or Contact Us section of the website to find out who publishes the site and other information such as where the organization is located and its purpose or mission. 

2.    Go to the Resources or Links pages to see what other sites the site recommends viewing or what organizations the site promotes.

3.    Google the author or organization to find out if the organization has been in the news

4.     Ask a librarian or teacher to see if they know about a particular site or organization

Can You Solve This?

Defining Confirmation Bias:

Digital Culture Critic Abandons "Fake News on the Internet" Column:   

Spotlight on BIAS

3.    Google the author or organization to find out if the organization has been in the news 4.     Ask a librarian or teacher to see if they know about a particular site or organization.

Do you love to use Wikipedia for all your assignments? This site will tell you why it isn't a good source for your research projects.

This site gives you a very good explanation of Wikipedia, how it is created, and why it isn't a good source for your school projects. Wikipedia might be a good place to start when you don't know something, but it isn't a good place to end your research.

Website Evaluation Form

  Open  the checklist the form and complete to evaluate a potential website you might use for your research.

• The Cars Checklist
• Website Evaluation Form  

RADCAB Rubric

W ebsites to evaluate

Evaluation Prezi : 

• Brandywine  

Research with Primary Sources

Primary Sources are things that give first-hand or direct information about the past. For the historian, primary sources are the 'nuts and bolts' of their trade, from which all secondary texts are produced. Primary materials include

Using primary sources A number of issues have to be considered when using primary sources:

• when was the document produced: was it close to the time and place of the event?
• why was it produced?
• for whom was it produced? (for private 'consumption' or for public/propaganda reasons)
• are there any clues in the document through which the content may be cross-checked?
• is there any obvious bias? - all documents are biased in some way or another
• are the values of the writer, inherent in the document, different from those of the reader? (this is going to be more than likely)

The Value of Primary Sources

The value of primary sources

When Marion Copied

Citations for beginers  

Facts About Plagiarism

Did you know ?...

According to a national survey published in Education Week:

• 54% of students admitted to plagiarizing from the Internet  
• 74% of students engaged in "serious" cheating at least once during the past school year  
• 47% of students believe their teachers sometimes choose to ignore students who are cheating

All these facts and more can be found at  plagiarism.org

Why Bother to Cite Your Sources?

Citing the sources you use when writing any paper is all about  giving credit where credit is due .  Using the words and ideas of other people without giving them credit is plagiarism and is considered  academic misconduct . 

Learning to cite your sources isn't just about avoiding consequences, it's about developing adacemic integrity, a quality that will benefit you in every aspect of your education.

 Add / Reorder  

Aug 14, 202

Your Citation is Your Source's Address

our  ource's  ddress  Did you know that your teachers will look at your citations to see if you used reliable sources?   that article. When they do that, they will use your citation to find the article, website, or book you used. Your citation will lead them to your information source.

Your Bibliography is Your Paper's Resume

our  's   Did you know that your teachers will often look at your bibliography

What Exactly is an Annotated Bibliography?

"Bibliography",  flickr

An  is a   that includes a paragraph following each citation that summarizes or evaluates the source being cited. "Each annotation is generally three to seven sentences long. In some bibliographies, the annotation merely describes the content and scope of the source; in others, the annotation also evaluates the source’s reliability, currency, and relevance to a researcher’s purpose" ( , n.d.).

You're much more likely to copy words if you only have one set of words to copy from. Look the answer up on three or four websites, or in several encyclopedias or reference books. Think about the different ways these sources express the same ideas. Does each one bring a new idea or approach? Which one do you find easiest to understand? If you're not able to understand it at all, keep looking for more helpful sources, or ask a teacher or parent for help.

Picking from all your sources, jot down some key words and ideas that have to do with the question you're trying to answer or the subject you're researching. Don't use complete sentences or phrases, just individual words or groups of no more than three words. You want just enough to jog your memory of what you learned and understood about the material. Names and dates and places are fine, but not opinions or fancy language. If you can't understand it, don't include it in your notes.

Hide your browser window, or close your books. Get that original material out of your sight. You're on your own now, working from your notes and your brain. You may want to keep the sites or the pages marked if you need to refer to them for further clarification, but don't keep them open when you're writing, and NEVER cut and paste unless you're using NoodleBib.

When you have an understanding of the material you've read and have formulated ideas that sound right to you and sound original to the adult who's helping you, write it out on paper. You should have something that draws its facts from research material you've found, but filters it through your own thoughts and understanding and language abilities. Your teacher will be far happier with this than with a more knowledgeable passage you copied directly from somebody else. Your ideas, directly from you, are what's important.

article adapted and used with permission ~ Terri Mauro @about.com

• Never cut and paste and think you're done. It's worth saying again and again. You may feel you can drop something onto your paper and then rewrite it, but shuffling words around is not the same thing as paraphrasing. Only do this if you are using NoodleBib and are cutting and pasting into your notecards so you can paraphrase in the next section of the card.  
• Ditto copying directly from a book. Take notes of facts and basic information, but don't write sentences down word for word. If your hand's getting sore, that's a good sign that you're copying too much.  
• Don't leave researching to the last minute. The more time you can put between looking at the original material and writing about it, the less likely you are to remember exact words and phrases -- or to be so desperate that copying seems like the only option.  
• The very first thing to do before you write a word is to understand what you're writing about. If you can't do that, ask an adult for help. Learning to advocate for yourself is a skill that will come in handy whether you're in fourth grade, college, or beyond.

What You Need

What you need:.

• Three or more resources on the subject you're researching
• Index cards, paper for jotting notes, or EasyBib
• Your brain, to process that material and create something that's yours
• A parent, advisor, friend or teacher to help you think things through
• Enough time, so don't procrastinate!

How to Remember What You Read

Ever read something and have no idea what it said? Then this video is for you!

Information Literacy Faculty Guide

• How to use this LibGuide
• Information Literacy Simplified
• Information Literacy: OER / ZTC Resources

The Big6: A Model for Information Literacy

The big6 steps.

• InfoLit Model: Framework for Information Literacy
• InfoLit Model: The The Seven Pillars of Information Literacy
• Writing and Citing Support
• Learning Commons and Library Support

Student Learning Librarian

• The Big6 Model for Information Literacy Developed by Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz, the Big6 is the most widely known and widely used approach to teaching information and technology skills in the world. Used in thousands of K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and corporate and adult training programs, the Big6 information problem-solving model is applicable whenever people need and use information.
• Big6 Chart A summary of the information literacy experience using the Big6 model as a framework. Includes links to other resources.

The "Big6" Steps Model of Information Literacy

The Big6™ is a process model that integrates information search and use skills along with technology tools in a systematic process to find, use, apply, and evaluate information for specific needs and tasks.

Students may use these steps will help them focus and stay organized during the research process. Step 1. Task Definition

• Define the information problem (assignment)
• What does my instructor expect me to do?
• Do I understand what I need to do?
• What are the questions I need to answer?
• What do I need to know about the topic?
• Should I ask my instructor for clarification? 

Step 2. Information Seeking Strategies

• Make a list of all possible sources & select the best ones
• Choose from library databases: reference databases, scholarly databases, news and magazine databases, streaming video databases, eBooks, or credible websites
• Where can I start to look for information?·
• Who can I reach out to for information?
• What are the best sources to use?
• Should I reach out to a librarian for help with sources?

Step 3. Location and Access

• Locate sources
• Locate sources & find information within the texts
• Consult the library catalog and databases, search engines, and web-based references
• Take notes or use a graphic organizer to map out your topic and subtopics
• Where can I find these resources?
• How do I search to get to them?
• Where do I find the information in the resource?
• Would asking a librarian for help with the databases save me time?

Step 4. Use of Information

• Engage (read, hear, view, touch)
• Use skimming and scanning to find information that addresses your topic
• Look for key words and terminology, pictures, headlines, and first & last paragraphs of articles to help you locate the “right” information
• Keep track of your information by using the library database's Email or Share Tools (include the citation) and email yourself the URL of a web page (you will thank yourself later) 
• Take notes 
• Summarize, paraphrase or quote
• Remember to cite each source you use in the style you were assigned (MLA, APA, etc)
• What type of information did I find?
• Is it credible and fact-based?
• Does it fit the requirements of my assignment?
• Will the information answer the questions I have?
• How do I write notes on the information?
• Is the information reliable?

Step 5. Synthesis

• Organize from multiple sources
• Choose the format of your project and organize your research notes according to how you will share the information.
• If your format is a paper, begin by writing an outline.
• If you are producing a PowerPoint or multi-media presentation, categorize your main bullet points and images. Different formats require different types of organization.
• Present the information effectively by practicing and knowing your audience
• How do I fit all the information together
• How do I write an outline of the project?
• How do I present the information to my teacher to answer the question?
• Did I remember to make notes of all the sources for the  bibliography?
• Would this be a good time to reach out to the Writing Center?

Step 6. Self-Evaluation

• Judge the product (effectiveness)
• Did you meet your objective?
• Judge the quality of your work.
• Next, judge the quality of your presentation.
• You can use criteria such as accuracy, content, creativity and legibility.
• Did I solve the problem?
• Did I write the project in a format that will be understood?
• Will I do anything different the next time?
• What did I learn?
• Am I pleased with the project?

Source: Big6 Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz.

• << Previous: Information Literacy: OER / ZTC Resources
• Next: InfoLit Model: Framework for Information Literacy >>
• Last Updated: Jul 30, 2024 3:52 PM
• URL: https://westerntc.libguides.com/InfoLit

Research Basics: Big6

• Research Tips

The Big6 Research Model

The Big6 was developed by Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz to guide student through a process of conducting efficient and effective research.

The Big6 Approach to Information & Technology Literacy

Big6 Visual

• << Previous: APA
• Last Updated: Aug 7, 2024 1:22 PM
• URL: https://library.millersville.edu/ResearchBasics

© Copyright 2016. All Rights Reserved. Millersville University is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Institution. A Member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.

The Big 6 Research Model

Lesson: The BIG 6 Research Model Description: Students will learn the six steps in the BIG 6 Research Model. Grade Level: 11 Curriculum: Life Skills / IB Theater Keywords: research process, information seeking, evaluating information, accessing information, referencing information

AASL Standards:

1.1.1   Follow an inquiry based process in seeking knowledge in curricular subjects, and make the real world connection for using this process in own life.

1.1.4 Find, evaluate, and select appropriate sources to answer questions.

1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g., textual, visual, media, digital) in order to make inferences and gather meaning.

2.1.1 Continue an inquiry based research process by applying critical thinking skills (analysis, synthesis, evaluation, organization) to information and knowledge in order to construct new understandings, draw conclusions, and create new knowledge.

2.1.2  Organize knowledge so that it is useful.

2.1.3 Use strategies to draw conclusions from information and apply knowledge to curricular areas, real world situations, and further investigations

2.1.4 Use technology and other information tools to analyze and organize information.

Have you ever felt anxiety when your teacher assigns you a research project.  Have you spent hours searching the internet and not find what you want?  No more worries my friend!  The Big 6 research model is a step by step process to help you research your topic.

In this lesson, you are going to complete three tasks:

1) You are going to conduct a research of the steps in the Big 6 model.

2) You are going to apply the steps to a given research assignment.

3) You are going to Conduct a research using the Big 6 Model.

Click here  to watch the SlideShare PowerPoint about the Big 6.

1.  Write down the steps of the Big 6 model.

2.  Read and discuss the model and write at least three question that you may have.

• Share the questions written on day and scroll down and watch movie # 1 to find the answers to the questions.
• Using the format from the video, prepare a research plan  for the  following Question; "What are the different theater styles?"
• Your plan should include at least:
•  Four keywords you'll use to search
•  Four sources you plan to collect the resources from
• Two ways you plan to collect the information,
• One sentence telling  how the information will be used,
• One sentence telling how you plan to put the information together 
• Three things you will look for when evaluating the final project.
• Research information on about theater styles by clicking here .  Retrieve the information you need.
• Use the desktop to locate relevant information about the types of theater styles.

Collate the information on the different types of theater styles and organize in the form of a Prezi that presents the definition and features of each type of music listed.

• You will be given time to present your Prezi in class (Bond).
• For your assignment, you are to click here  Print the 'Self Test' form  and fill it in with the steps in the Big 6 Model

The Big 6 Research Model is a process that includes and warrants self evaluation as well as external evaluation. 

Use the rubric below to ensure that you have followed the requirements. 

You may also get your peers to review your project before you submit same

#	0 - Unsatisfactory	5 - Fair	10 - Good	15 - Very Good	Score
The Research Plan using the Big 6 Model	No work submitted	1. Four keywords you'll use to search 2. Four sources you plan to collect the resources from Two ways you plan to collect the information, 3. One sentence telling how the information will be used,	1. Four keywords you'll use to search 2. Four sources you plan to collect the resources from 3. Two ways you plan to collect the information, 4. One sentence telling how the information will be used, 5. One sentence telling how you plan to put the information together	1. Four keywords you'll use to search 2. Four sources you plan to collect the resources from 3. Two ways you plan to collect the information, 4. One sentence telling how the information will be used, 5. One sentence telling how you plan to put the information together 6. Three things you will look for when evaluating the final project.	15
The Content	No work Submitted	Definition and features of one to two of the following: -reggae -mento -ska -rock steady -dancehall -sound system -deejays	Definition and features of three to four of the following: -reggae -mento -ska -rock steady -dancehall -sound system -deejays	Definition and features of all of the following: -reggae -mento -ska -rock steady -dancehall -sound system -deejays	15
Sources of information used	No source used at all	Use one of the following sources: -books -newspaper/ -journal	Use of any two of the following: - internet -books -newspaper/ journals	Use of all of the following: -internet -books -newspaper/ journals	15
The written project	No work submitted	Written project is not presentable and not well organized.	Written project is understandable but needs to be more organized and presentable.	Written project is neat and presentable, understandable and neatly organized.	15

Now that we have come to the end of the lesson, I hope you have learned the basic steps of conducting a research.

 I ask that you reflect on the entire process one step at a time.

 I also suggest that you apply the model to your research projects as it it through practice that it will  become natural.

 For further information and or reminders you can click here

Lahore American School Follow. (2009, November 05). Big 6 Powerpoint. Retrieved December 01, 2017, from https://www.slideshare.net/kathykhan/big-6-powerpoint

Salvatore Sorce, Voice and Accent Lecturer Follow. (2011, January 16). Theatre styles. Retrieved December 01, 2017, from https://www.slideshare.net/SalvatoreGiovanniSorce/theatre-styles

Big 6 Research Model. (n.d.). Retrieved December 01, 2017, from http://openworkshop.pbworks.com/w/page/48611010/Big%206%20Research%20Mo…

6 Research Model.m4v. (2011, July 19). Retrieved December 05, 2017, from https://youtu.be/m-6D7oRvrkM

The Big6 research model is a six-step model designed to aid with problem solving and making informed decisions.  Using the Big6 model, researchers can identify their information research goals, find, use, and synthesize relevant and credible information.

The Big6 works will with national, state, and district curriculums.

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Harris Energizes Democrats in Transformed Presidential Race

1. the presidential matchup: harris, trump, kennedy, table of contents.

• Other findings: Both Harris and Trump are viewed more favorably than a few months ago
• Voting preferences among demographic groups
• How have voters shifted their preferences since July?
• Harris’ supporters back her more strongly than Biden’s did last month
• Large gap in motivation to vote emerges between the candidates’ younger supporters
• Harris and Trump have gained ground with their own coalitions
• Share of ‘double negatives’ drops significantly with change in presidential candidates
• Views of Biden have changed little since his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race
• Acknowledgments
• The American Trends Panel survey methodology

Nationally, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are essentially tied among registered voters in the current snapshot of the presidential race: 46% prefer Harris, 45% prefer Trump and 7% prefer Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Following Biden’s exit from the race, Trump’s support among voters has remained largely steady (44% backed him in July against Biden, while 45% back him against Harris today). However, Harris’ support is 6 percentage points higher than Biden’s was in July . In addition to holding on to the support of those who backed Biden in July, Harris’ bump has largely come from those who had previously said they supported or leaned toward Kennedy.

Harris performs best among the same demographic groups as Biden. But this coalition of voters is now much more likely to say they strongly support her: In July, 43% of Biden’s supporters characterized their support as strong – today, 62% of Harris’ do.

Overall, many of the same voting patterns that were evident in the Biden-Trump matchup from July continue to be seen today. Harris fares better than Trump among younger voters, Black voters, Asian voters and voters with college degrees. By comparison, the former president does better among older voters, White voters and voters without a college degree.

But Harris performs better than Biden across many of these groups – making the race tighter than it was just a few weeks ago.

• In July, women’s presidential preferences were split: 40% backed Biden, 40% preferred Trump and 17% favored Kennedy. With Harris at the top of the ticket, 49% of women voters now support her, while 42% favor Trump and 7% back Kennedy.
• Among men, Trump draws a similar level of support as he did in the race against Biden (49% today, compared with 48% in July). But the share of men who now say they support Harris has grown (to 44% today, up from 38% last month). As a result, Trump’s 10-point lead among men has narrowed to a 5-point lead today.

Race and ethnicity

Harris has gained substantial ground over Biden’s position in July among Black, Hispanic and Asian voters. Most of this movement is attributable to declining shares of support for Kennedy. Trump performs similarly among these groups as he did in July.

• 77% of Black voters support or lean toward Harris. This compares with 64% of Black voters who said they backed Biden a few weeks ago. Trump’s support is unchanged (13% then vs. 13% today). And while 21% of Black voters supported Kennedy in July, this has dropped to 7% in the latest survey.
• Hispanic voters now favor Harris over Trump by a 17-point margin (52% to 35%). In July, Biden and Trump were tied among Hispanic voters with 36% each.
• By about two-to-one, Asian voters support Harris (62%) over Trump (28%). Trump’s support among this group is essentially unchanged since July, but the share of Asian voters backing Harris is 15 points higher than the share who backed Biden in July.
• On balance, White voters continue to back Trump (52% Trump, 41% Harris), though that margin is somewhat narrower than it was in the July matchup against Biden (50% Trump, 36% Biden).

While the age patterns present in the Harris-Trump matchup remain broadly the same as those in the Biden-Trump matchup in July, Harris performs better across age groups than Biden did last month. That improvement is somewhat more pronounced among voters under 50 than among older voters.

• Today, 57% of voters under 30 say they support Harris, while 29% support Trump and 12% prefer Kennedy. In July, 48% of these voters said they backed Biden. Trump’s support among this group is essentially unchanged. And 12% now back Kennedy, down from 22% in July.
• Voters ages 30 to 49 are now about evenly split (45% Harris, 43% Trump). This is a shift from a narrow Trump lead among this group in July.
• Voters ages 50 and older continue to tilt toward Trump (50% Trump vs. 44% Harris).

With Harris now at the top of the Democratic ticket, the race has become tighter.

Much of this is the result of shifting preferences among registered voters who, in July, said they favored Kennedy over Trump or Biden.

Among the same group of voters surveyed in July and early August, 97% of those who backed Biden a few weeks ago say they support or lean toward Harris today. Similarly, Trump holds on to 95% of those who supported him a few weeks ago.

But there has been far more movement among voters who previously expressed support for Kennedy. While Kennedy holds on to 39% of those who backed him in July, the majority of these supporters now prefer one of the two major party candidates: By about two-to-one, those voters are more likely to have moved to Harris (39%) than Trump (20%). This pattern is evident across most voting subgroups.

In July, Trump’s voters were far more likely than Biden’s voters to characterize their support for their candidate as “strong” (63% vs. 43%). But that gap is no longer present in the Harris-Trump matchup.

Today, 62% of Harris voters say they strongly support her, while about a third (32%) say they moderately support her. Trump’s voters are just about as likely to say they strongly back him today as they were in July (64% today, 63% then).

Kennedy’s voters make up a smaller share of voters today than a month ago – and just 18% of his voters say they strongly support him, similar to the 15% who said the same in July.

Across demographic groups, strong support for Harris is higher than it was for Biden

Among women voters who supported Biden in July, 45% said they did so strongly. That has grown to 65% today among women voters who support Harris.

Increased intensity of support is similar among men voters who back the Democratic candidate: In July, 42% of men voters who supported Biden said they did so strongly. This has since grown to 59% of Harris’ voters who are men.

Across racial and ethnic groups, Harris’ supporters are more likely than Biden’s were to say they back their candidates strongly.

Among White voters, 43% who supported Biden in July did so strongly. Today, Harris’ strong support among White voters sits at 64%.

A near identical share of Harris’ Black supporters (65%) characterize their support for her as strong today. This is up from the 52% of Biden’s Black supporters who strongly backed him in July. Among Harris’ Hispanic supporters, 56% support her strongly, while 45% of Asian Harris voters feel the same. Strong support for Harris among these voters is also higher than it was for Biden in July.

Across all age groups, Harris’ strength of support is higher than Biden’s was. But the shift from Biden is less pronounced among older Democratic supporters than among younger groups.

Still, older Harris voters are more likely than younger Harris voters to describe their support as strong. For instance, 51% of Harris’ voters under 50 say they strongly support her, while 71% of Harris supporters ages 50 and older characterize their support as strong.

Today, about seven-in-ten of both Trump supporters (72%) and Harris supporters (70%) say they are extremely motivated to vote.

Motivation to vote is higher in both the Democratic and Republican coalitions than it was in July .

These shifts have occurred across groups but are more pronounced among younger voters.

Today, half of voters under 30 say they are extremely motivated to vote, up 16 points since July. Motivation is up 11 points among voters ages 30 to 49 and 50 to 64, and up 6 points among those ages 65 and older.

Among the youngest voters, the increased motivation to vote is nearly all driven by shifts among Democratic supporters.

• In July, 38% of 18- to 29-year-old Trump voters said they were extremely motivated to vote. Today, a similar share of his voters (42%) report that level of motivation.
• But 18- to 29-year-old Harris supporters are far more likely to say they are extremely motivated to vote than Biden’s supporters in this age group were about a month ago. Today, 61% of Harris’ voters under 30 say this. In July, 42% of voters under 30 who supported Biden said they were extremely motivated to vote.

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Many Americans are confident the 2024 election will be conducted fairly, but wide partisan differences remain

Joe biden, public opinion and his withdrawal from the 2024 race, amid doubts about biden’s mental sharpness, trump leads presidential race, americans’ views of government’s role: persistent divisions and areas of agreement, cultural issues and the 2024 election, most popular, report materials.

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Hackers may have stolen the Social Security numbers of every American. Here’s how to protect yourself

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About four months after a notorious hacking group claimed to have stolen an extraordinary amount of sensitive personal information from a major data broker, a member of the group has reportedly released most of it for free on an online marketplace for stolen personal data.

The breach, which includes Social Security numbers and other sensitive data, could power a raft of identity theft, fraud and other crimes, said Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

For the record:

2:39 p.m. Aug. 15, 2024 A previous version of this article identified Teresa Murray as the consumer watchdog director for the U.S. Public Information Research Group. She works for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

“If this in fact is pretty much the whole dossier on all of us, it certainly is much more concerning” than prior breaches, Murray said in an interview. “And if people weren’t taking precautions in the past, which they should have been doing, this should be a five-alarm wake-up call for them.”

According to a class-action lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the hacking group USDoD claimed in April to have stolen personal records of 2.9 billion people from National Public Data, which offers personal information to employers, private investigators, staffing agencies and others doing background checks. The group offered in a forum for hackers to sell the data, which included records from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, for $3.5 million , a cybersecurity expert said in a post on X.

The lawsuit was reported by Bloomberg Law .

Last week, a purported member of USDoD identified only as Felice told the hacking forum that they were offering “ the full NPD database ,” according to a screenshot taken by BleepingComputer. The information consists of about 2.7 billion records, each of which includes a person’s full name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and phone number, along with alternate names and birth dates, Felice claimed.

Data of nearly all AT&T customers downloaded in security breach

Information on nearly all customers of the telecommunications giant AT&T was downloaded to a third-party platform in a 2022 security breach.

July 12, 2024

National Public Data didn’t respond to a request for comment, nor has it formally notified people about the alleged breach. It has, however, been telling people who contacted it via email that “we are aware of certain third-party claims about consumer data and are investigating these issues.”

In that email, the company also said that it had “purged the entire database, as a whole, of any and all entries, essentially opting everyone out.” As a result, it said, it has deleted any “non-public personal information” about people, although it added, “We may be required to retain certain records to comply with legal obligations.”

Several news outlets that focus on cybersecurity have looked at portions of the data Felice offered and said they appear to be real people’s actual information. If the leaked material is what it’s claimed to be, here are some of the risks posed and the steps you can take to protect yourself.

The threat of ID theft

The leak purports to provide much of the information that banks, insurance companies and service providers seek when creating accounts — and when granting a request to change the password on an existing account.

A few key pieces appeared to be missing from the hackers’ haul. One is email addresses, which many people use to log on to services. Another is driver’s license or passport photos, which some governmental agencies rely on to verify identities.

Still, Murray of PIRG said that bad actors could do “all kinds of things” with the leaked information, the most worrisome probably being to try to take over someone’s accounts — including those associated with their bank, investments, insurance policies and email. With your name, Social Security number, date of birth and mailing address, a fraudster could create fake accounts in your name or try to talk someone into resetting the password on one of your existing accounts.

“For somebody who’s really suave at it,” Murray said, “the possibilities are really endless.”

It’s also possible that criminals could use information from previous data breaches to add email addresses to the data from the reported National Public Data leak. Armed with all that, Murray said, “you can cause all kinds of chaos, commit all kinds of crimes, steal all kinds of money.”

Phishing attack hits L.A. County public health agency, jeopardizing 200,000-plus residents’ personal info

The personal information of more than 200,000 people in Los Angeles County was potentially exposed after a hacker used a phishing email to steal login credentials.

June 14, 2024

How to protect yourself

Data breaches have been so common over the years, some security experts say sensitive information about you is almost certainly available in the dark corners of the internet. And there are a lot of people capable of finding it; VPNRanks, a website that rates virtual private network services, estimates that 5 million people a day will access the dark web through the anonymizing TOR browser, although only a portion of them will be up to no good.

If you suspect that your Social Security number or other important identifying information about you has been leaked, experts say you should put a freeze on your credit files at the three major credit bureaus, Experian , Equifax and TransUnion . You can do so for free, and it will prevent criminals from taking out loans, signing up for credit cards and opening financial accounts under your name. The catch is that you’ll need to remember to lift the freeze temporarily if you are obtaining or applying for something that requires a credit check.

Technology and the Internet

Are you the victim of identity theft? Here’s what to do

If you’re a victim of identity thieves or a data hack, you need to act quickly. Here’s what to do to protect yourself.

Oct. 26, 2022

Placing a freeze can be done online or by phone, working with each credit bureau individually. PIRG cautions never to do so in response to an unsolicited email or text purporting to be from one of the credit agencies — such a message is probably the work of a scammer trying to dupe you into revealing sensitive personal information.

For more details, check out PIRG’s step-by-step guide to credit freezes .

You can also sign up for a service that monitors your accounts and the dark web to guard against identity theft, typically for a fee. If your data is exposed in a breach, the company whose network was breached will often provide one of these services for free for a year or more.

If you want to know whether you have something to worry about, multiple websites and service providers such as Google and Experian can scan the dark web for your information to see whether it’s out there. But those aren’t specific to the reported National Public Data breach. For that information, try a free tool from the cybersecurity company Pentester that offers to search for your information in the breached National Public Data files . Along with the search results, Pentester displays links to the sites where you can freeze your credit reports.

As important as these steps are to stop people from opening new accounts in your name, they aren’t much help protecting your existing accounts. Oddly enough, those accounts are especially vulnerable to identity thieves if you haven’t signed up for online access to them, Murray said — that’s because it’s easier for thieves to create a login and password while pretending to be you than it is for them to crack your existing login and password.

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Of course, having strong passwords that are different for every service and changed periodically helps. Password manager apps offer a simple way to create and keep track of passwords by storing them in the cloud, essentially requiring you to remember one master password instead of dozens of long and unpronounceable ones. These are available both for free (such as Apple’s iCloud Keychain) and for a fee .

Beyond that, experts say it’s extremely important to sign up for two-factor authentication. That adds another layer of security on top of your login and password. The second factor is usually something sent or linked to your phone, such as a text message; a more secure approach is to use an authenticator app, which will keep you secure even if your phone number is hijacked by scammers .

Yes, scammers can hijack your phone number through techniques called SIM swaps and port-out fraud , causing more identity-theft nightmares. To protect you on that front, AT&T allows you to create a passcode restricting access to your account; T-Mobile offers optional protection against your phone number being switched to a new device, and Verizon automatically blocks SIM swaps by shutting down both the new device and the existing one until the account holder weighs in with the existing device.

Your worst enemy may be you

As much or more than hacked data, scammers also rely on people to reveal sensitive information about themselves. One common tactic is to pose as your bank, employer, phone company or other service provider with whom you’ve done business and then try to hook you with a text or email message.

Banks, for example, routinely tell customers that they will not ask for their account information by phone. Nevertheless, scammers have coaxed victims into providing their account numbers, logins and passwords by posing as bank security officers trying to stop an unauthorized withdrawal or some other supposedly urgent threat.

People may even get an official-looking email purportedly from National Public Data, offering to help them deal with the reported leak, Murray said. “It’s not going to be NPD trying to help. It’s going to be some bad guy overseas” trying to con them out of sensitive information, she said.

It’s a good rule of thumb never to click on a link or call a phone number in an unsolicited text or email. If the message warns about fraud on your account and you don’t want to simply ignore it, look up the phone number for that company’s fraud department (it’s on the back of your debit and credit cards) and call for guidance.

“These bad guys, this is what they do for a living,” Murray said. They might send out tens of thousands of queries and get only one response, but that response could net them $10,000 from an unwitting victim. “Ten thousand dollars in one day for having one hit with one victim, that’s a pretty good return on investment,” she said. “That’s what motivates them.”

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Hackers may have stolen your Social Security number in a massive breach. Here's what to know.

By Aimee Picchi

Edited By Anne Marie Lee

Updated on: August 16, 2024 / 3:02 PM EDT / CBS News

A new lawsuit is claiming hackers have gained access to the personal information of "billions of individuals," including their Social Security numbers, current and past addresses and the names of siblings and parents — personal data that could allow fraudsters to infiltrate financial accounts or take out loans in their names. 

The allegation arose in a lawsuit filed earlier this month by Christopher Hofmann, a California resident who claims his identity theft protection service alerted him that his personal information had been leaked to the dark web by the "nationalpublicdata.com" breach. The lawsuit was earlier reported by Bloomberg Law.

The breach allegedly occurred around April 2024, with a hacker group called USDoD exfiltrating the unencrypted personal information of billions of individuals from a company called National Public Data (NPD), a background check company, according to the lawsuit. Earlier this month, a hacker leaked a version of the stolen NPD data for free on a hacking forum, tech site Bleeping Computer reported . 

That hacker claimed the stolen files include 2.7 billion records, with each listing a person's full name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and phone number, Bleeping Computer said. While it's unclear how many people that includes, it's likely "that everyone with a Social Security number was impacted," said Cliff Steinhauer, director of information security and engagement at The National Cybersecurity Alliance, a nonprofit that promotes online safety.

"It's a reminder of the importance of protecting yourself, because clearly companies and the government aren't doing it for us," Steinhauer told CBS MoneyWatch.

In a statement posted to its website, NPD said the breach involved a "third-party bad actor that was trying to hack into data in late December 2023, with potential leaks of certain data in April 2024 and summer 2024."

The company added that it is working with law enforcement and government investigators. NPD said it "will try to notify you if there are further significant developments applicable to you."

Here's what to know about the alleged hack. 

What is National Public Data? 

National Public Data is a data company based in Coral Springs, Florida, that provides background checks for employers, investigators and other businesses that want to check people's backgrounds. Its searches include criminal records, vital records, SSN traces and more information, its website says.

There are many similar companies that scrape public data to create files on consumers, which they then sell to other businesses, Steinhauer said.

"They are data brokers that collect and sell data about people, sometimes for background check purposes," he said. "It's because there's no national privacy law in the U.S. — there is no law against them collecting this data against our consent."

What happened with the USDoD hack?

According to the new lawsuit, USDoD on April 8 posted a database called "National Public Data" on the dark web, claiming to have records for about 2.9 billion individuals. It was asking for a purchase price of $3.5 million, the lawsuit claims. 

However, Bleeping Computer reported that the file was later leaked for free on a hacker forum, as noted above. 

How many people have been impacted?

The number of people impacted by the breach is unclear. Although the lawsuit claims "billions of individuals" had their data stolen, the total population of the U.S. stands at about 330 million. The lawsuit also alleges that the data includes personal information of deceased individuals.

Bleeping Computer reports that the hacked data involves 2.7 billion records, with individuals having multiple records in the database. In other words, one individual could have separate records for each address where they've lived, which means the number of impacted people may be far lower than the lawsuit claims, the site noted.

The data may reach back at least three decades, according to law firm Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe, which said on Monday it is investigating the breach.

Did NPD alert individuals about the hack? 

It's unclear, although the lawsuit claims that NPD "has still not provided any notice or warning" to Hoffman or other people affected by the breach. 

"In fact, upon information and belief, the vast majority of Class Members were unaware that their sensitive [personal information] had been compromised, and that they were, and continue to be, at significant risk of identity theft and various other forms of personal, social, and financial harm," the lawsuit claims. 

Information security company McAfee reported that it hasn't found any filings with state attorneys general. Some states require companies that have experienced data breaches to file reports with their AG offices. 

However, NPD posted an alert about the breach on its website, stating that it believes the information breached includes names, email addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers and mailing addresses.

Can you find out if your data was part of the hack?

There are tools available that will monitor what information about you is available on the dark web, noted Michael Blair, managing director of cybersecurity firm NukuDo. Commonly breached data includes your personal addresses, passwords and email, he added.

One such service is how Hofmann, who filed the lawsuit, found out that his information has been leaked as part of NPD breach.

"Make sure to use reputable companies to look that up," Blair said. 

What should I do to protect my information?

Security experts recommend that consumers put freezes on their credit files at the three big credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Freezing your credit is free, and will stop bad actors from taking out loans or opening credit cards in your name. 

"The biggest thing is to freeze your credit report, so it can't be used to open new accounts in your name and commit other fraud in your name," Steinhauer said. 

Steinhauer recommends consumers take several additional steps to protect their data and finances:

• Make sure your passwords are at least 16 characters in length, and are complex. 
• Use a password manager to save those long, complex passwords.
• Enable multifactor authentication, which Steinhauer calls "critical," because simply using a single password to access your accounts isn't enough protection against hackers. 
• Be on alert for phishing and other scams. One red flag is that the scammers will try to create a sense of urgency to manipulate their victims.
• Keep your security software updated on your computer and other devices. For instance, make sure you download the latest security updates from Microsoft or Apple onto your apps and devices. 

You can also get a tracking service that will alert you if your data appears on the dark web. 

"You should assume you have been compromised and act accordingly," Steinhauer said. 

• Data Breach
• Social Security

Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.

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