Information Literacy
Exploring the key elements of information and how these strengthen our literary minds
“Something that is objective is not influenced by feelings or personal biases. Something that is subjective is up for personal interpretation and subject to personal feelings.” - Amanda Timolat, Professor of Research and Documentation in the Information Age at New York City College of Technology.
Understanding the characteristics of information is a steppingstone to becoming fluent in the realm of literacy. Whether this is to gather, sort, or distribute information, the first step is to understand the power and responsibility we hold. The information we gather, the way we absorb it and the way we propagate it can have exponential consequences as it spreads. Therefore, Understanding the ethical elements in the characteristics of information is important to being a literary person or professional.
Information is knowledge gathered from primary or secondary research, investigation, study, or instruction. Information Literacy is one’s level of competence in identifying, accessing, evaluating, and organizing information to solve a matter or complete a task. There are a six key elements that help determine how we gather, process, and organize information:
Fact: Substance based on factual existence
Analysis: detailed study of complex subject to understand its origin or determine its main components
Objective: choosing or expressing facts or conditions as perceived without distortion by personal feelings, prejudices, or interpretations.
Subjective: choosing or expressing conditions as perceived with the distortion by personal feelings, prejudices, or interpretations.
Primary Sources: an article, report, research, etc. based on first-hand experience
Secondary Sources: an article, report, etc. collected from research or studies that are not firsthand accounts. But these are collected from information that has been firsthand studied or documented and peered reviewed.
The subjective and the objective are the border between facts, opinions, biased and unbiased information. These two are hand in hand the two concepts that, when crossed in today’s social and cultural clashes, become the front line of miscommunication. The two weapons chosen by either side. The interesting enough, when both sides communicate objectively, this can only strengthen the group and bring both sides closer. Two objectives create a room where intellectual growth is a strong possibility.
It is important to be competent in the fundamentals of information literacy because these determine how we use or sort the information we encounter. Propagating credible information determines our credibility. For example: if I am using subjective information to inform others on a topic that requires unbiased facts, I am misinforming those with whom I communicate. This affects my credibility exponentially. Those who I misinform can eventually begin to see me as an incompetent student or co-worker.
Information literacy is extremely important to creating a solid relationship with those whom we communicate across all forms of information exchange. Consistent competency and credibility in information helps solidify long-term professional and academic relationships. Analyzing, sorting, and propagating information through the six key elements help us create transparent and ethical relationships in our personal, professional and academic lives.
References
Chandler, D., & Munday, R. (2020). information literacy. In A Dictionary of Media and Communication. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 27 Jan. 2024, from https://www-oxfordreference-com.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/view/10.1093/acref/9780198841838.001.0001/acref-9780198841838-e-1333.
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Analysis. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved January 27, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/analysis
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Fact. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved January 27, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fact
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Information. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved January 27, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/information
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Objective. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved January 27, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/objective
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Primary source. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved January 27, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primary%20source
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Secondary source. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved January 27, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secondary%20source
