The analysis of the informational competencies of students entering university: a case study

Abstract

In the current era, it is necessary to train the new generations in competencies that allow them to be information literate. In this context, the general objective of the study is to analyze whether students entering university have information literacy skills in accessing information (Internet search strategies) to carry out their academic work. The objectives are: to identify the digital and printed resources they use to prepare academic assignments; to find out if they know meta-search engines and specialized search engines; to reveal which is their main search engine; and to investigate if they have the skills to access information through Boolean indicators, commands, and operators. The methodology used is a questionnaire of open questions to students who have entered the degree of Advertising and Public Relations at the University of Malaga, in a compulsory subject. It is concluded that being digital natives does not imply having skills to locate reliable data in the huge amount of information located on the Internet as they present various dysfunctions such as lacking knowledge about the boolean indicators, commands, and operators to search for information, and lack of knowledge of meta-search engines and specific directories. They also confuse a browser with search engines and digital resources with tools, which makes it necessary to have formal training in specific subjects, courses, or in a transversal way in different subjects. It is also recommended that each teacher provide students with useful digital resources to access reliable content of the subject taught, thus expanding their skills to access digital culture.