Saturation, acceleration and information pathologies: the conditions that influence the emergence of information literacy safeguarding practice in COVID-19-environments

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this second study into information literacy practice during the COVID-19 pandemic is to identify the conditions that influence the emergence of information literacy as a safeguarding practice.Design/methodology/approachThe qualitative research design comprised one to one in-depth interviews conducted virtually during the UK's second and third lockdown phase between November 2020 and February 2021. Data were coded and analysed by the researchers using constant comparative techniques.FindingsContinual exposure to information creates the “noisy” conditions that lead to saturation and the potential for “information pathologies” to act as a form of resistance. Participants alter their information practices by actively avoiding and resisting formal and informal sources of information. These reactive activities have implications for standard information literacy empowerment discourses.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is limited to the UK context.Practical implicationsFindings will be useful for librarians and researchers who are interested in the theorisation of information literacy as well as public health and information professionals tasked with designing long-term health promotion strategies.Social implicationsThis paper contributes to our understandings of the role that information literacy practices play within ongoing and long-term crises.Originality/valueThis paper develops research into the role of information literacy practice in times of crises and extends understanding related to the concept of empowerment, which forms a central idea within information literacy discourse.

Agency and liminality during the COVID-19 pandemic: Why information literacy cannot fix vaccine hesitancy

“…After all, in a time of high personal risk and when clinical data are still emerging, what could be more responsible than taking the time to properly evaluate the evidence that is accessible to you? Findings from this study also extend recent critiques [ 83 ] of the importance that is accorded to preparatory rather than reactive elements of practice within highly cited models of information literacy; for all the emphasis that institutional guidelines place on the need for reflexivity and evaluation [ 90 ], current information literacy discourse does not often allow for the type of hesitation that is noted within this study.…”

“…Participants respond to the complexity of this time by informing themselves about the vaccine and its societal and medical consequences through employing a range of protective information activities, including shielding themselves from unsubstantiated rumours and untrustworthy information providers. These activities, which together constitute the practice of information literacy, acknowledge and work to mitigate the noise [ 83 ] created by the emerging COVID-19 environment by minimising the ambiguous and contested forms of vaccine knowledge that people encounter as they transition between the pre- and post-COVID-19 space (the betwixt and between). These strategies subsequently lead participants to make the decision to delay vaccination rather than conform to governmental and medical advice.…”

“…However, findings from this study complicate this narrative by demonstrating how empowerment is signified by the agentic performance of delay rather than proactive engagement with society. Illustrating how empowerment cannot uniquely be seen as affirmative [ 83 ], these findings also challenge the perception that information literacy will automatically engender social well-being. Instead, people are as empowered to take socially unacceptable decisions as much as acceptable ones.…”

Current Status and Associated Factors of Health Information Literacy Among the Community Elderly in Central China in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…5 Good health information literacy could guide people to adopt scientific protection and choose medical measures, meanwhile, the correct health information awareness and health information behavior are particularly important and even life-relating during the epidemic. 6 , 7 …”

“…5 Good health information literacy could guide people to adopt scientific protection and choose medical measures, meanwhile, the correct health information awareness and health information behavior are particularly important and even life-relating during the epidemic. 6,7 The Medical Library Association (MLA) defined Health information literacy (HIL) as a series of abilities that can help individuals identify health information needs, recognize possible information sources, use them to retrieve relevant information, assess the quality of information and its specific application scenarios, and make rational health decisions. 8 It is the reflection of an individual's ability to access, evaluate, and apply health information, and its level is related to the effectiveness of health education and the state of health engagement in a given region.…”