Information Skills Rating Scale

1. Questioning
A researcher recognizes decisions, issues and problems when looking at a topic.

Advanced	Intermediate	Beginner
Independently discovers an issue or problem when looking at a topic.	Formulates questions about topics with adult help to elevate the question to focus on issues and problems.	Relies upon adults to state questions and topics.

2. Planning
A researcher identifies sources of information likely to build understanding.

Advanced	Intermediate	Beginner
Selects high quality sources independently and efficiently.	Selects sources with mixed success.	Wanders from source to source without questioning which source will be most helpful.

3. Gathering.
A researcher collects and stores information for later consideration.

Advanced	Intermediate	Beginner
Collects and organizes important information for retrieval independently.	Collects information with some degree of organization.	Loses track of most important information.

4. Sorting
A researcher reorganizes information so that the most valuable becomes readily available to support understanding.

Advanced	Intermediate	Beginner
Creates structure which provides a coherent and clear focus.	Creates partial organization of information.	Leaves information as gathered.

5. Synthesizing
A researcher recombines information to develop decisions and solutions.

Advanced	Intermediate	Beginner
Creates an original decision or solution	Reorganizes and combines strategies of others.	Restates the decisions and solutions of others.

6. Evaluating
A researcher determines whether the information gathered is sufficient to support a conclusion.

Advanced	Intermediate	Beginner
Tests solutions and decisions to see if supporting information is adequate.	Looks for missing information.	Reaches a hasty conclusion.

7. Reporting

Advanced	Intermediate	Beginner
Creates and presents an original product which effectively addresses original problems or issues.	Provides a product which offers some insight with regard to the original problem or issues.	Shares the work or thoughts of others.

Based on: McKenzie, Jamie. “A Measure of Student Success: Assessing Information

Problem Solving Skills.” From Now On Sept. 1996.