Information literacy
Information literacy enables you to assess which data is best to use when it comes to your research.
- What is information literacy?
- Why is information literacy important?
- How can you improve your information literacy and information management?
- Top tips for information management and literacy
How good is your information literacy?
Can you source what you need to when you research?
Information literacy is a skill that can be developed to help you analyse and secure the information you need.
What is information literacy?
Are you confident in searching for, identifying, collating and evaluating a range of information from different sources, using different techniques, information software and resources? If so, then you have a grasp on information seeking, information literacy and management. Information management enables you to have a good understanding of the importance of bibliometrics, citations and metadata, as well as growing your familiarity with the legal, ethical and security issues surrounding data management.
Why is information literacy important?
Information management is key for researchers, to ensure that they are using their time effectively and are not overlooking valuable pieces of data. With good data handling skills, you can feed your data into your research successfully, even if that data was collated previously.
How can you improve your information literacy and information management?
- Talk to a staff member at your institution’s library about available bibliographic resources and information searching tools and techniques
- Devise a search strategy by assessing the different ways of seeking information and tools available
- Reflect whether you have a good understanding of bibliometrics and citations and how these are used in research and assessment. If not, your library staff representative will be able to help you
- Share what insights you have found through information seeking to other researchers in your field, and they in turn will share knowledge with you
Top tips for information literacy and management
- Familiarise yourself with the tools for the collection of information and data that can help you with your research. Seek training from your institution if necessary
- Do you fully understand the legal, ethical and security requirements involved in storing and handling data? If not, ask in your library or research office for help
- If you have a strong grasp on the requirements to handling and storing data, share your knowledge with your department and fellow researchers – you could even add input to your institution’s policies on this subject
- Consider developing new techniques or technologies which can better gather information if the tools that exist are not suitable. Your new techniques could then fit into your institution’s information technology service.
Final takeaways
- Information management enables you to have a good understanding of the importance of bibliometrics, citations and metadata, as well as growing your familiarity with the legal, ethical and security issues surrounding data management.
- Familiarise yourself with the tools for the collection of information and data that can help you with your research. Seek training from your institution if necessary.