Does Skepticism Predict News Media Literacy: A Study on Turkish Young Adults

Abstract

The 2010's are when information and informatics age coexist, information overload has been transformed into a mass engineering tool, "imposing bombardment" has become the norm. The most influential tool of this cultural-industrial act is news media. Efforts to educate young adults, who are most active in touch with information, in view of news media are needed. Skepticism has the potential to improve news media literacy of young adults. The present study investigates whether young adults' skepticism levels predict young adults' news media literacy levels. The research problem was analyzed with correlational research model. Two different research populations (Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University and Atatürk University) were determined for the purpose of the study. The results revealed positive, moderate, significant relationships between skepticism levels and news media literacy of young adults. "Self-determining" and "interpersonal understanding" competencesthe components of skepticism -have a positive effect on news media literacy. The "search for knowledge" and "questioning mind" has the potential to positively affect news media literacy.

There's more to news media skepticism: a path analysis examining news media literacy, news media skepticism and misinformation behaviors

“…Craft et al ., 2017; Maksl et al ., 2015), it is a cross-sectional examination regardless and the relationship should be interpreted with caution. We indeed have seen research explore the relationship in a reverse direction in which they argue skepticism predicts news media literacy (Kartal et al ., 2017). Therefore, future research in the field of media literacy should validate the proposed relationship with an experimental or quasi-experimental intervention.…”