9.3 A structured search process

1. Define the information need.
2. Identify the ideal population, geography, time period, measure, unit, and level of detail.
3. Search authoritative producers and primary publications first.
4. Read metadata, methods, and definitions before downloading.
5. Record the source, access date, version, licence, and relevant fields.
6. Assess comparability with the organizational data.
7. Document transformations, aggregations, and joins.
8. Reassess whether the source answers the original need.

Library guides, data catalogues, government portals, scholarly databases, and professional associations can be useful starting points. When a guide points to an original dataset or report, evaluate and cite the original source whenever possible.