Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
2022
Abstract
The world is experiencing a rapid and massive spread of misinformation referred to as “infodemic” (WHO, 2020, cited by Salvi, et al., 2021). Despite information literacy had been a long-offered solution to information problems (Horton, 2007) and studies discovered that accurate identification of fake news was significantly associated with information literacy (Jones-Jang, et al., 2021), approaches to IL instruction must be updated and must adapt to the changing information society and environment (SCONUL, 2018; Rutledge and LeMire, 2017).
It aimed to determine the level of information literacy and fake news identification of the students. It also determined if there is a significant difference in the students’ competence when grouped according to their gender and academic performance. It also determined the correlation between information literacy and fake news identification.
The study employed a descriptive correlation approach and used an online questionnaire tool adapted from the TRAILS assessment tool. The questionnaire also included examples of news materials that students determined if fake or not. The respondents consist of 331 freshmen students of Benguet State University enrolled during the school year 2020-2021.
The findings revealed that students are fairly competent in information literacy and fake news identification. It was also found that, when compared according to gender, there is no significant difference in the information literacy of the students but there is a significant difference in the fake news identification. It was concluded that female students are more capable of identifying fake news. When compared according to academic performance, there is a significant difference in students’ information literacy and fake news identification. It was concluded that students with higher academic performance tend to have higher competence in information literacy and fake news identification. It was concluded that there is a significant moderate correlation between information literacy and fake news identification.
The results of the study guided the information literacy program launched by the library, #BUILDS, or the BSU ULIS Information Literacy Development Solutions. One of the activities under the program is the release of the information literacy video series intended to develop students’ information competencies.