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2023 , Vol. 67 >Issue 22: 104 - 113

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13266/j.issn.0252-3116.2023.22.011

INFORMATION RESEARCH

An Investigation of the Differences Between Digital Natives' Self-perceived Information Literacy Competency and Actual Ability

  • Xia Hongyu ,
  • Li Yuhai ,
  • Peng Ting ,
  • Liu Li
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  • 1 School of Information Management, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079;
    2 Library of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073;
    3 Library of Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068

Received date: 2023-03-28

  Revised date: 2023-07-26

  Online published: 2023-12-16

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Abstract

[Purpose/Significance] Numerous psychological and sociological studies have shown that individuals often overestimate their competencies in certain domains. This will lead to individuals not taking the initiative to learn and improve knowledge and skills in related fields, which is not conducive to the development of individuals. Investigating and analyzing the difference between contemporary college students' self-perceived information literacy competencies and their actual abilities can understand students' cognitive misunderstandings and biases in information literacy, and provide innovative ideas for the reform of information literacy education. [Method/Process] Information literacy standardized tests (ILT) and information literacy Self-efficacy Scale (ILSES) were used to assess students' actual information literacy competency and self-perceived ability. This paper investigates the difference between the self-perceived information literacy competency and the actual ability of 1 028 freshmen from three universities in Wuhan. [Result/Conclusion] The results show that 73.15% of the students' information literacy competency is below the proficient level. In general, most of the students overestimate their information literacy competency, with an average of 9.26%. With the improvement of information literacy self-efficacy, the ILT test scores also rose, and the gap between ILT and ILSES widened. Meanwhile, there is a Dunning-Kruger effect on the information literacy competency of freshmen:individuals with low information literacy competency obviously overestimate their abilities, while those with high information literacy competency underestimate their skills. The group with ILT test scores ≤ 50, with their average score of information literacy self-efficacy was 72.21, close to the average of the overall sample (72.38). The group with ILT-9 and ILT-10 (ILT scores >80), with their average score of information literacy self-efficacy is lower than the ILT-8 group (70<ILT score ≤ 80).

Key words： digital natives; information literacy; self-efficacy; self-estimates; collage students

Cite this article

Xia Hongyu , Li Yuhai , Peng Ting , Liu Li . An Investigation of the Differences Between Digital Natives' Self-perceived Information Literacy Competency and Actual Ability[J]. Library and Information Service, 2023 , 67(22) : 104 -113 . DOI: 10.13266/j.issn.0252-3116.2023.22.011

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