Information literacy: a desideratum of the 21st century

Abstract

Purpose

The research surveyed the competency of information literacy of senior high school students in Fiji. This is to evaluate the strong predictors of information literacy.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a survey research design whereby a five-point Likert scale self-reporting questionnaire was administered to Year 12 and Year 13 secondary school students. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software-descriptive statistics of calculating the mean and standard deviation, a correlation and linear regression analysis to deduce the strong predictors of information literacy.

Findings

The study showed that 81% of the students surveyed were average to above average information literate. The strong predictors of information literacy were the ability of an individual to collaborate and share safely online, the ability to share files securely and the ability to access the credibility of any resource assessed on the digital platform.

Research limitations/implications

The current study evaluates information literacy of a cohort – stating how information literate the participants are, comprehending the strong predicators of information literacy so that there is an appropriate and effective implementation of interventions for the desired improvements.

Practical implications

The results can be used to improve information literacy of students at all levels of education in the Fiji Islands.

Social implications

If the youths are information literate they will be able to effectively contribute towards the development of their economy. Since the work environment today is technology oriented and involves a lot of information, being information literate means knowing how to use the information and differentiate between good and bad information. Hence, contributing effectively towards whatever task is performed.

Originality/value

This research if the first ever research done on evaluating the information literacy of individuals in Fiji.

Citation

Reddy, P., Sharma, B., Chaudhary, K., Lolohea, ’. and Tamath, R. (2022), "Information literacy: a desideratum of the 21st century", Online Information Review, Vol. 46 No. 3, pp. 441-463. https://doi.org/10.1108/OIR-09-2020-0395