information literacy and the significance of research

In an information age, developing discernment and discrimination when digesting sources of information is a critical skill. Information literacy is the critical skill of being able to recognize credible sources and become a critical consumer of data. As Head & Wihbey (2014) point out, “finding useful information and a sense of what to trust” are now considered essential job skills (p. 1). Therefore, information literacy needs to be approached in a more serious manner.

Knowing how to research and locate adequate, appropriate, and correct information is important in almost every field. Information literacy is not just a job skill; lifelong learning depends on developing information literacy (Module 1). As importance as researching on the Internet can be, the ability to research is not sufficient. Information literacy involves an understanding of the process of delving into academic databases and utilizing the professional research skills that librarians can offer.

Research shows that new recruits tend to seek “quick answers plucked from the Internet,” which often proves insufficient and even dangerously wrong (p. 1). Information literacy means moving beyond the fast answers that can be found online on spurious sources. Students and employees need to be able to tell the differences between a credible source and one that is unreliable. With the glut of information on the Internet, in print, and in other multimedia sources, students and employees might have trouble differentiating between a credible and an unreliable source.

Knowing that Wikipedia is not necessarily reliable, students may mistakenly believe that any other website offers credible information. Some Wikipedia articles offer far more accurate information than even a news media source, which is why the student needs to cultivate the patience for searching deeper for confirmation of facts. Improving my information skills will help me to be a more critical consumer of information, as well as a better communicator or interpreter of information. Improving my information skills will also help me in the ongoing pursuit of knowledge.

Another important aspect of information literacy is an appreciation for the importance of the process of research itself. Students need to be able to synthesize information from a variety of sources. Doing so increases students’ power to think critically and contribute to scholarly discourse. Culling information from a variety of sources, interpreting the results of scientific studies, and then synthesizing information in unique ways are methods for practicing information literacy. Finally, improving my information skills will help me in my future career ambitions.

Few careers do not require some degree of information literacy. Assignment 2 I found this week’s lessons particularly instructive. I had never before considered how important information literacy was to my future career. Knowing that information literacy can increase my value to any team helps me to become more dedicated to being a critical thinker. I have often struggled with the “deluge of data,” as Head & Wihbey (2014) put it. Now I feel better equipped to separate out what is unreliable from what is credible.

I know how to combine primary source research and evidence with secondary sources and.