Foreword by the guest editor

Designing for youth across the Gulf: Fishbowl on how today's methods, theory and findings can support tomorrow's designs

List of Contributors. Editorial Advisory Board. Preface. Introduction - Information Literacy and Information Behaviour, Complementary Approaches for Building Capability. Transforming Information Literacy for Higher Education in the 21st Century: A Lifelong Learning Approach. Curriculum and Curriculum Integration of Information Literacy in Higher Education. The Construction of Information and Media Literacy in Education Policy: A Study of Singapore. Information Literacy in Higher Education: Research Students' Development in Information Search Expertise. Mediating Culture: Media Literacy and Cultural Awareness The Representation of Race and Ethnicity in Maya and Miguel. Empowering Professional Practices of a Community of e-Learners: Special Education Teachers in Alaska and their Information Literacy Conceptions. Information Literacy of Undergraduate Students in Thailand: A Case of the Faculty of Arts, Silpakorn University, Thailand. Building Partnerships for Information Literacy among HE Institutions in African Universities: Opportunities and Challenges - A Case Study. Perspectives on Legal Education and the Role of Information Literacy in Improving Qualitative Legal Practice. Information Literacy in the Business School Context: A Story of Complexity and Success. Workplace Reflections of Information Literacy Training: The Case of the Agriculture and Health Sectors in Tanzania. Workplace Information Literacy: It's Different. Diversifying Information Literacy Research: An Informed Learning Perspective. The Use of Participatory Techniques in the Communication of Information for Communities: Information Literacy and Collaborative Work for Citizenship Development. About the Authors. Developing People's Information Capabilities: Fostering Information Literacy in Educational, Workplace and Community Contexts. Library and Information Science. Developing People's Information Capabilities: Fostering Information Literacy in Educational, Workplace and Community Contexts. Copyright page. Index.

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to profile the information seeking behaviour of nursing students, according to learning style, personality and self‐efficacy in information literacy. Such profiles should help students to reflect on their information seeking, and should help librarians in designing information literacy programmes that are targeted to student needs.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire using existing validated scales for learning styles, personality, and information literacy self‐efficacy was developed. The information seeking portion was based on an information behaviour model with core processes (opening, orientation and consolidation) and corresponding micro‐processes. The questionnaire was administered to nursing students (n=261, response rate 74 per cent, 194/261) at one UK university.FindingsNeither information literacy self‐efficacy, nor learning style on their own appeared to change as students progressed. There is a significant association between learning style and self‐efficacy. There appears to be some associations between personality and learning style, and between personality, learning style and preferred information seeking processes. Odds ratios analyses were used to help in preliminary development of profiles. Students with a higher degree of confidence about their information literacy are more likely to: think about their search; work out strategies; and build and adapt their searches. Deep learners take a broad, exploratory approach to searching and score highest for the openness personality trait; whilst strategic learners think about their search, adapt as they progress and score highest for conscientiousness and emotional stability. Surface learners do less planning. Additionally, personality traits (which are essentially stable over time) are positively or negatively associated with various aspects of information seeking.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample size limits the extent of statistical analyses and possible generalizations. The planned qualitative research may help in confirmation of the information seeking profiles.Originality/valueThe research extends existing research evidence on the impact of personality and learning style on student information behaviour by including an information literacy scale and information seeking micro‐processes.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review key models of people’s information behaviour (IB) exploring the integration of the concepts of information literacy (IL) and knowledge in their designs. Scholarly perspectives portray IL as providing individuals with capacity for good information practices that result in generating new knowledge. It is surprising that this important perspective is not reflected in the reviewed IB models. This paper contributes to the literature base by proposing a new model highlighting IL and knowledge as important concepts within the IB discourse.Design/methodology/approachA discourse of the integration of IL and knowledge, which are integral factors, associated with IB, in selected IB models.FindingsIdentifying a need for information and understanding its context is an IL attribute. IL underpins IB in providing awareness of information sources; how to search and use information appropriately for solving information needs and leveraging generated new knowledge. The generation of new knowledge results from using information, in a process that combines with sense-making and adaption. Correspondingly, the knowledge that develops, increases capability for sense-making and adaptation of information to suit various contexts of need, iteratively.Originality/valueA new model of IB; the causative and outcome factors of information behaviour (COFIB) is proposed. COFIB stresses that IL and knowledge are prominent factors within the general framework of people’s IB. The model emphasises knowledge generation as the outcome of IB, applied in solving problems within specific contexts.

Purpose: The aim of the study is to determine how people process information in the digital contexts in terms of information seeking behavior, their use in libraries and information literacy practices. It aims to analyse the impact of cognitive, social, and technological factors on the user behaviour on the way the old models of information-seeking between Wilson (1999), Kuhlthau (1991), and Savolainen (1995) are applicable in a digital environment. Design/Methodology/Approach: The paper was a qualitative research design that was exploratory and intended to offer a thorough insight on human-information interface, especially user seeking, receiving and exploiting of information within digital and library settings. Exploratory research design is suitable since HII relates to intricate social, cognitive, and contextual procedures that involve amorphous inquiry and interpretation as opposed to hypothesis testing (Creswell and Creswell, 2023). In general, this approach was used to produce a context-driven knowledge of human behavior concerning dealing with information in modern digital and library environments Findings: The research concluded that interaction between human information and the digital age depends on the cognitive capacity of the user, his/her digital literacy and the socio-cultural issues. A majority of them find it easy to use online platforms yet they still access libraries to get credible and clear information. The seeking-information behavior was identified to be non-linear and iterative as the information overload and the inability to judge the information sources tended to interrupt the process of information-seeking. Implication: The observable in the research is that libraries need to pursue user-focused digital service and enhance information literacy initiatives to guide users on how to cope with complex webbased applications. It underlines the necessity of putting into consideration socio-cultural and contextual aspects in the formulation of inclusive information systems and literacy programs. As well, it is implied that human-information interaction will work well with balancing technology efficiency with critical thinking and active user engagement as the strategically vital role of libraries and educators in achieving an informed, digitally literate population. Originality/Value: The paper provides a comprehensive perspective of Human-Information Interaction by connecting the conventional theories of information behavior and modern digital practices. It gives new knowledge into the way cognitive, social and technological aspects influence user behaviour and library use. Keywords: Human–Information Interaction; Information-Seeking Behavior; Digital Libraries; User Behavior; Information Literacy; Library Engagement Paper type: Exploratory research

Western Guangdong, a key agricultural production base in Guangdong, is endowed with abundant natural resources and a diverse range of crop cultivation. Amidst intensifying market competition and the progression of agricultural modernization, farmers in this region confront challenges related to information acquisition and utilization. The examination of information behavior is crucial not only for understanding farmers' information needs and usage patterns in production decision-making but also for uncovering the multifaceted factors influencing their information behavior, such as socio-economic background, technological proficiency, and policy support. In-depth exploration of their information behavior can furnish valuable insights for policymakers, agricultural extension workers, and pertinent researchers. Through a combination of questionnaires and interviews, this study gathered data on farmers' information acquisition methods, usage practices, and the influence of such information on their decision-making processes in Western Guangdong. Farmers predominantly access information via channels such as the internet, recommendations from family and friends, and agricultural technology dissemination, yet limitations persist in their information utilization. The research also identified that socio-economic factors, technological proficiency, and policy support significantly shape farmers' information behavior. By analyzing these elements, this paper seeks to elucidate the prevalent patterns in farmers' information behavior, thereby offering theoretical backing for enhancing their information literacy and decision-making skills. The study of farmers' information behavior in Western Guangdong not only sheds light on the current state of agricultural informatization but also provides fresh perspectives and strategies for future agricultural advancement.

PurposeInformation and digital literacy have recently received much interest, and they are being viewed as critical strategic organisational resources and skills that employees need to obtain in order to function at their workplaces. Yet, the role of employees' literacy seems to be neglected in current literature. This paper aims to explore the roles that information and digital literacy play on the employees' perception in relation to usefulness and ease of use of digital technologies and consequently their intention to use technology in the practices they perform at the workplace.Design/methodology/approachThis paper builds a conceptual model with key constructs (information literacy and digital literacy) as new antecedents to the technology acceptance model and aims to establish that information literacy and digital literacy are indirect determinants of employees' intention to use digital technologies at the workplace. The data set used in this paper comprises of 121 respondents and structural equation modelling was used.FindingsThe findings reveal that both information literacy and digital literacy have a direct impact on perceived ease of use of technology but not on the perceive usefulness. The findings also show that both literacies have an indirect impact on the intention to use digital technology at work via attitude towards use.Practical implicationsManagers and decision-makers should pay close attention to the literacy levels of their staff. Because literacies are such an important skillset in the digital age, managers and chief information officers may want to start by identifying which work groups or individuals require literacy training and instruction, and then provide specific and relevant training or literacy interventions to help those who lack sufficient literacy.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies to consider information literacy and digital literacy as new antecedents of the technology acceptance model at the workplace environment.

PurposeThe purpose of this exploratory study is to investigate the information behaviour of a group of doctoral students in the field of biology with the aim of understanding their needs and obtaining suggestions for an improved library service.Design/methodology/approachIn‐depth semi‐structured interviews explore which information sources students use, research strategies they adopt, the role people adopt in their information seeking process and the attitude students have towards library services.FindingsDoctoral students rely heavily on the internet for their research work. They appreciate simple and easy research tools and their use of the library is limited to a few services, such as document delivery and interlibrary loan. People play a crucial role in doctoral students' information behaviour mainly in terms of suggesting relevant documents. Students demonstrate progress throughout the years of their doctorate course in terms of awareness and information competence.Practical implicationsThe paper presents a perspective on the information needs of doctoral students in the biology field and provides some insights into students' priorities in terms of information tools and library services.Originality/valueThe paper can represent a starting‐point for further investigation into the information‐seeking patterns and needs of doctoral students in Italian universities.

The objective of this study was to examine how information literacy can aid in infodemic management in the context of university students in a developing country. A printed survey questionnaire was employed to collect data on information literacy and infodemic management from a sample population consisting of university students. A total of 300 responses were collected and analysed, and both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The results brought about a wide set of findings. The study found that students in the Department of Information Science and Library Management at the University of Dhaka exhibited a high level of awareness of information literacy and the COVID-19 infodemic. Despite the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation related to COVID-19, the students did not tend towards unreliable sources of information. The study examined the positive effect of information literacy on infodemic management through a multiple regression analysis. The empirical findings can aid in navigating the spread of misinformation and disinformation in the context of other developing countries.

Research has shown that international graduate students of all engineering majors face various challenges (e.g., linguistic or cultural). Furthermore, female international graduate students are considered a "doubly marginalized" group due to their identity as international students and women. This study aims to determine the challenges experienced by female non-native English-speaking (NNES) international doctoral students in the engineering field and the impacts of these challenges. Existing studies have revealed NNES international doctoral students and female international graduate students’ challenges in the engineering field. However, there is a lack of knowledge about female NNES international doctoral students' challenges in the engineering field. This study seeks to address this gap. The data collection process involves interviews with eight female NNES international doctoral engineering students from a public land-grant research university. The study excludes first-year students to ensure participants have enough experience of the relevant issues. The major findings concern the different intersections of identities for female NNES international doctoral engineering students. As international doctoral students, participants face emotional, cultural, and immigration-related challenges when moving to another country. They additionally experience marginalization, insecurity, stereotyping, and inequality due to their identity as international students and women. Finally, they face significant linguistic challenges with speaking and writing due to their NNES. The results can assist U.S. higher institutions in finding ways to better help female NNES international doctoral students have more positive experiences and neutralize the gender gap in the engineering field.

Trust, authority and credibility in the digital environment have attracted the interest of many researchers in the recent years. Reliable and credible information are key factors for making numerous decisions in our everyday lives, from making political choices to choosing a healthy lifestyle. Various health-related narratives are present in the public sphere. Health advice and recommendations on vaccination, antibiotics, nutrition, exercise and numerous other topics are provided by different sources, scientific community, healthcare professionals, media, lay people, patients, social networks, etc. It was the infodemic associated with the coronavirus pandemic that again brought to the forefront the importance of reliable and credible health information and health information literacy in this complex digital environment. In such fragmented information ecosystem, characterized by the post-truth era, where misinformation and fake news spread by uninformed individuals or advocates of various conspiracy theories are considered equivalent to reliable scientific information, individuals have to choose whom to trust, based on their critical capacities and competencies, in order to make health decisions for themselves and their families. The young people of today, especially those born after the year 2000, represent the generation of digital natives, who grew up and spent their entire lives surrounded by digital technologies that have become an integral part of their lives. They think and process information differently than their predecessors. Most of them use the Internet as their primary source for accessing information, most often through smartphones, spend the vast majority of time online, increasingly use social networks for private and professional purposes, but at the same time have difficulty assessing the reliability of online information. The way they assess trust in digital information is different from the way they question information credibility in traditional media. Given that trust and credibility of information strongly influence the effect of information message itself, which, in extraordinary circumstances and public health crisis such as the coronavirus pandemic, is of vital importance for the lives of people, it is very important to understand how users decide whom to trust. Health information literacy is a multidimensional and dynamic concept that incorporates social, cognitive, economic, and personal skills to search, understand, and use health information in order to improve and maintain good health. The evaluation of online health information, i.e. its reliability and credibility, plays a significant role in the process of health behavior change. Research to date has not reached a consensus on unique framework for understanding the process of building user confidence in online health information. The focus of this doctoral dissertation are theoretical and analytical challenges of health information literacy as a multidimensional and dynamic concept, particularly in understanding the process of creating trust in online health information. By examining the attitudes and opinions of medical students about the evaluation of online health information we aimed to determine factors that influence the assessment of health information quality and credibility. The main research objective is to examine the element of information appraisal in the concept of health information literacy and to determine the processes of creating trust in health information in an online environment. The specific research objectives are as follows: 1. to identify factors and techniques for assessing the quality, reliability and credibility of online health information; 2. to determine the elements of cognitive heuristics for assessing the reliability of online health information; 3. to determine the impact of infodemic during a healthcare crisis on online health information trust issues; 4. to examine methods for assessing the quality and reliability of user-generated online health information; 5. to investigate medical students' attitudes and knowledge of the concepts and tools for assessing health information literacy. Our research aimed to determine common elements of information appraisal in the concept of health information literacy and related concepts dealing with online health information (health literacy, information literacy, media literacy, digital literacy, etc.). The research was performed using multiple methods conducted in three phases: 1. literature review and comparative analysis of selected tools and instruments for assessment of health information literacy and related concepts; 2. a survey questionnaire that examined the attitudes and opinions of medical students of the University of Zagreb School of Medicine regarding online health information appraisal, and 3. semi-structured interviews with a smaller subgroup of respondents in order to build on the findings from the survey questionnaire related to the determination of factors that influence trust in online health information, i.e. assessment of their quality and credibility. The results of our research demonstrated that medical students have the knowledge, skills and techniques necessary to assess the quality, reliability and credibility of online health information. Although medical students generally considered Internet to be a questionable source for health information, the majority reported that they always use online search engines as the first step when searching for health topics, regardless of their purpose (general interest, academic assignment, or personal or health problem among family and friends, etc.). Medical students consider the following analytical criteria when assessing the credibility of online health information: trustworthiness, completeness, objectivity and comprehensiveness of information, referencing other data sources and author disclosure. Apart from analytical criteria, medical students also use cognitive heuristics when assessing the reliability of online health information, especially user-generated content that is published and shared via social networks. Students also emphasized the importance of critical thinking, factual analysis, information verification on multiple sources, determination of source credentials as well as sharing information with family members, friends, colleagues, physicians and university professors who they consider as cognitive authorities in health communication. Research results indicate an overall positive relationship between perceived health information literacy of medical students, their ability to evaluate online health information and trust in the Internet as a source of health information. Students with high self-perceived level of e-health literacy more often use websites of government institutions and professional medical associations than other sources for online health information. Our research also revealed that the degree of trust that medical students have in online sources of information affects their behavior when searching and evaluating online health information. In healthcare crisis situations, medical students apply additional evaluation criteria for usergenerated health information on social media. In general, medical students expressed mistrust towards social networks, especially as a source of credible health information in the context of an infodemic. Although the majority of students use social networks only passively, they also believe that social networks present a platform that has the potential, if used appropriately, to convey reliable information and improve health information literacy. Students also stressed that, during infodemic, strategic crisis communication skills should be applied for proactive dissemination of credible, factual and scientific evidence in order to contribute to a faster and more efficient containment of the spread of misinformation and fake news on social media. The results of our research have shown that online health information should be comprehensive, accurate, evidence-based, objective and up-to-date in order to convey a quality health message. According to medical students, quality of information, source credibility, comprehensibility and readability, as well as verification of information in evidence-based sources are main predictors of trust in online health information. Understanding which health channels and sources are considered most reliable among different user groups can help health professionals reach at-risk patients in order to communicate health messages more successfully and implement interventions aimed at strengthening skills that are important for health information appraisal. By analyzing medical students` attitudes and opinions about credibility of online health information, we explored ways to promote critical thinking in the digital environment in order to empower individuals to make decisions in their everyday life based on verified and credible sources of information. Placing greater emphasis on lifelong learning about health, and formal and informal health information literacy education, enables greater autonomy and empowerment of individuals, and can be viewed as part of personal development towards an improved quality of life. Health information literacy increases individual and community resistance to harmful and misleading information and reduces the impact of the infodemic on human health. Improving health information literacy among population requires joint action and cooperation between stakeholders and policymakers (government authorities, media, scientific, educational and health institutions, healthcare professionals, scientists, researchers, librarians and others). Health information literacy is an important competence of every individual, but its implications for society are much broader. They include personal and social responsibility of individuals and taking ethical actions for the benefit of the community. A modern democratic society implies engaged citizens who autonomously reflect on political, ethical and social challenges in everyday life. Empowerment in health and social care, achieved by developing critical competencies, helps in distancing oneself from various social pressures, making independent informed decisions and taking responsibility for one's own health. Croatia, unlike most other European countries, still does not have an official strategy or action plan for developing and improving health information literacy among its population. Our research results point out the importance of including health information literacy in the national health policy and education strategy, with particular emphasis on developing critical thinking skills and competencies in evidence-based approach to online health information appraisal. The results of this research contribute to the conceptual linking of theoretical constructs on information appraisal and critical theories from information and communication sciences with constructs from the field of public health. The mentioned approach resulted in unifying the narratives of different domains, and synthesizing separate theoretical frameworks, namely health information and related literacies, which adds to the value of this research. The results of this research serve as a basis for defining skills for critical appraisal of online health information in order to increase the level of health information literacy and development of tools for evaluating the reliability of online health information. On the applicative level, this doctoral dissertation provides recommendations for communication of reliable online health information from the current infodemic perspective, in planning public health activities and interventions in the future.

This study explores the impact of mobile notifications on the information behavior and interaction attitudes of higher education students in Egypt and Germany. Using an ethnographic approach, the research investigates how mobile notifications serve as a crucial medium for information delivery, transforming user interaction with information. The study identifies significant challenges posed by the influx of notifications, such as information overload, distraction, and stress. It also examines the skills and strategies students employ to manage and prioritize notifications, emphasizing the need for improved mobile information literacy (MoIL). Interviews and observations reveal varied user engagement with notifications, highlighting the dual role of notifications as both end-point information containers and triggers for deeper information-seeking behavior. The findings suggest that while notifications enhance efficiency and immediacy in accessing information, they also necessitate new coping mechanisms to mitigate negative impacts. This research contributes to the field of information behavior by offering insights into the effective use of mobile notifications and proposing better notification system designs to foster enhanced information literacy in an increasingly connected world.

Purpose – Mobile computing devices are a significant access point for information activities. Theories and models of human information behaviour have developed over several decades but have not considered the role of the user's computing device in digital information interactions. The purpose of this paper is to explore the information behaviours of young adults when they are given unlimited access to mobile tablet devices. Design/methodology/approach – As information tasks, behaviours and communities shift into digital environments, a researcher of these phenomena is required to mirror that movement with techniques that allow a full exploration of human behaviour and interaction in the online world. Following Kozinets (2009), “netnography” (ethnography in online communities) is applied in this study and all data are collected online from within a community of iPad users, established for the research purpose. Findings – This study reveals that access to mobile tablet devices creates significant shifts in the behaviours of young adults whose lives are immersed in digital information. Mobile tablet devices establish the potential for constant access to digital information and that opportunity is grasped by the participants in this research. Extensive use of mobile device applications or “apps” establishes a more selected and restricted view of information than that encountered in the open and expansive World Wide Web. Originality/value – This paper invites extension to human information behaviour theories and models to include a consideration of computing access device and of new mobility and constancy of access – all of which changes the circumstances and behaviour of the information actor.

This is a review of research literature on graduate students’ information behavior. It aims at determining emergent patterns on graduate students’ information behavior, based on which recommendations are made as to whether graduate students need information literacy instruction and, if yes, what kinds of instruction are needed.Cette communication est une revue de la littérature de recherche sur les comportements informationnels des étudiants universitaires de 2e et 3e cycle. L’objectif est d’identifier des modèles émergents du comportement informationnel de ces étudiants, en fonctions des critères de recommandation permettant de déterminer s’ils ont ou non besoin de formation en maîtrise de l’information et, si oui, le type de formation nécessaire.

To first-year international doctoral students, there are many challenges to face when they land in the US and pursue their academic dreams, such as cultural differences, language barriers, and more. A peer with more local living experience would boost the fit-in process for these first-year international doctoral students. Concurrently, BME undergraduates might be overwhelmed by postgraduate choices and career path selection. A peer with more research and academic experience would be very helpful for the undergraduates to make their academic decisions. Thus, we introduced the iBMEntored Buddy Program, a novel initiative designed to create a unique mentorship environment for first-year international doctoral students and domestic Biomedical Engineering (BME) undergraduates, in which doctoral students and undergraduates can help each other with their complementary experiences and perspectives. The program aims to address challenges related to cultural diversity, language barriers, academic goals, and social acclimatization for international doctoral students while providing BME undergraduates with insights into postgraduate aspirations, research expertise, and cultural interests. The iBMEntored buddy pairs, consisting of an international BME doctoral student and a BME undergraduate, will bewere integrated into UT BME's successful BMEntored program. Leveraging the success of the existing program, the iBMEntored Buddy Program facilitates weekly meetings or alternative activities throughout the first year, fostering understanding, friendship, and the successful navigation of shared challenges. Participation was open to all first-year international BME doctoral students enrolling in Fall 2023 and interested BME undergraduates. The structure encourages mutual mentorship with flexibility in meeting formats, including traditional meetings, shared meals, social events, local excursions, or research-focused pursuits. To date, we have successfully paired up 5 pairs of buddy pairs. All buddy pairs have reported successfully meeting up multiple times throughout the semester and will continue to do so for the following semesters, even after the program ends. All pairs have developed unique dynamics between the two students. For example, a pair reported that the iBMEntored buddy became the person's best study buddy while they were both preparing for the exams/the medical college admission test. Another pair reported that they had developed a deep friendship and met up even more frequently than once a week. The graduate students also reported that the program helped their transition to the new environment more smoothly. By combining the success of the BMEntored program with a focus on the first year international PhD students, the iBMEntored Buddy Program is expected to enhance the overall educational experience for international students who are new to the US, promoting a sense of community within the UT BME department.