Topic 5: Information Literacy

Doctoral candidate: Jasmin Wallner, MA (Private University College of Teacher Education of Christian Churches Austria)

Supervisors:

The dissertation project ‘Information literacy: FA(I)ct or FA(I)ke? Understanding online search strategy patterns of lower secondary school students’ deals with online information search strategies and types of information disorder, taking into account generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of the information literacy of lower secondary school (LSS) students.

The aim of the project is to describe and compare search strategies in the Internet search process of lower secondary school students in the context of information and types of information disorder, taking into account generative AI. Among the types of information disorder a distinction is made between mis-, dis- and malinformation, which differ in terms of their accuracy or truthfulness and their intention to deceive.

Information and information disorder types according to Baines and Elliott (2020), own illustration

Baines D., & Elliott, R. (2020). Defining misinformation, disinformation and malinformation: An urgent need for clarity during the COVID-19 infodemic.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341130695_Defining_misinformation_disinformation_ and_malinformation_An_urgent_need_for_clarity_during_the_COVID-19_infodemic

The focus is on the following main research question:

How can search strategies of LSS students be described in the phases of the information process when dealing with information and types of information disorder in the topic-specific internet search process, taking into account generative AI?

The main research question is supported by four sub-questions that provide a structured link to the aims of this dissertation:

  • Which search strategies can be identified in the literature when dealing with (mis-/dis-/mal-)information?
  • What differences and similarities can be noticed when LSS students encounter with (mis-/dis-/mal-)information?
  • What is the role of generative AI, especially large language models, in search strategies?
  • Which information and AI-related competence dimensions are reflected in the identified search strategies?

Publications on the topic:

  • ‘Jugendliche im Umgang mit (Des-)Information und generativer KI’ in Erziehung & Unterricht – Partial focus ‘Transformative Medienbildung in der schulischen Praxis’ (in progress)

Workshops on the topic:

  • ‘Fakt, Fake, künstliche Intelligenz? Gehen wir der Wahrheit auf den Grund!’ at the 3rd Young Science Congress 2024 in Austria

News on the topic: