Digital skills of internet natives: Different forms of digital literacy in a random sample of northern Italian high school students

Abstract

This article outlines the main results and methodological challenges of a large scale survey on actual digital skills. A test covering three main dimensions of digital literacy (theoretical, operational and evaluation skills) was administered to a random sample of 65 third-year high school classes, producing data on 980 students. Items include knowledge questions, situation-based questions and tasks to be performed online. A Rasch-type model was used to score the results. In agreement with literature, the sample performed better in operational skills, whilst showing a particularly poor performance regarding evaluation skills (although for this dimension the test shows reliability issues). Through a robust regression analysis we investigate if a skills divide based on ascriptive differences, gender and family cultural background, exists among the students. It emerges that cultural background has a significant effect, which is stronger on operational skills, 2 while gender shows a more definite impact on theoretical knowledge. Methodological problems related to the measurement process are discussed and it is pointed out that a lack of standardised criteria to interpret substantive score differences exists in this field of study.

Development and validation of the Internet Skills Scale (ISS)

“…When measuring Internet skills, however, both basic skills necessary to use the Internet and skills required to comprehend and use online content should be accounted for (Bawden, 2008;Brandtweiner, Donat, & Kerschbaum, 2010;Eshet-Alkalai & Amichai-Hamburger, 2004;Ferrari, 2012;Gui & Argentin, 2011;Mossberger et al, 2003;Spitzberg, 2006;Steyaert, 2002;Van Deursen & Van Dijk, 2010;Warschauer, 2003). From this point of departure, several authors have suggested specific skills, mostly related to information searching.…”

The ‘digital curious’: first steps towards a new typology for mapping adults’ relationships with others when using ICT

“…Italian research on ICT use and appreciation appears to have been focused mainly on elderly people (Allario, 2003;Porcu, 2006;Facchini & Rampazi, 2006) or the younger generations, (Mantovani, Ferri, 2008;Gui & Argentin, 2011;Ranieri, 2011) often applying the Anglo-Saxon rhetoric on digital natives to Italy's younger generations. Little or no research has been dedicated to the adult group in between the two extremes.…”

Do the rich get digitally richer? Quantity and quality of support for digital engagement

“…However, at the same time research shows that the skills to use the Internet to one's benefit are underdeveloped among non-negligible parts of the population, even in countries with high levels of diffusion (e.g., Gui & Argentin, 2011;Hargittai, 2010;. Many countries have rolled out digital skills training in public places such as schools, tele-centers libraries, and community centers but this has not been as successful as hoped in tackling digital exclusion.…”