TY - JOUR
T1 - Information literacy in Oman's higher education
T2 - A descriptive-inferential approach
AU - Al-Aufi, Ali
AU - Al-Azri, Hamed
PY - 2013/12
Y1 - 2013/12
N2 - This study aims to identify the current status of information literacy among the students at Sultan Qaboos University in their final year through using the Big6 model for solving information problems. The study utilizes self-assessment survey approach, with the questionnaire as a tool for data collection. It surveyed undergraduate students of Sultan Qaboos University, enrolled in their final year for the academic year 2010/2011. Collected data from 550 valid questionnaires were processed using SPSS. The results indicated high rates of information literacy skills. Among the Big6 skills synthesis, including the ability of respondents in summarizing, combining and linking, using consistent style of organization, and using a variety of ways to display information was ranked first, while the skill of location and access scored the lowest. Significant statistical differences attributed to specialization, gender, English fluency, and computer skills were also indicated at minor levels. The amount of literature relating to information literacy in the Arab World is comparatively less than that in the developed countries. No empirical studies that investigate the competencies of information literacy among university students have previously been conducted in Oman.
AB - This study aims to identify the current status of information literacy among the students at Sultan Qaboos University in their final year through using the Big6 model for solving information problems. The study utilizes self-assessment survey approach, with the questionnaire as a tool for data collection. It surveyed undergraduate students of Sultan Qaboos University, enrolled in their final year for the academic year 2010/2011. Collected data from 550 valid questionnaires were processed using SPSS. The results indicated high rates of information literacy skills. Among the Big6 skills synthesis, including the ability of respondents in summarizing, combining and linking, using consistent style of organization, and using a variety of ways to display information was ranked first, while the skill of location and access scored the lowest. Significant statistical differences attributed to specialization, gender, English fluency, and computer skills were also indicated at minor levels. The amount of literature relating to information literacy in the Arab World is comparatively less than that in the developed countries. No empirical studies that investigate the competencies of information literacy among university students have previously been conducted in Oman.
KW - Big6
KW - Oman
KW - Sultan Qaboos University
KW - higher education
KW - information literacy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84888984730&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84888984730&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0961000613486824
DO - 10.1177/0961000613486824
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84888984730
SN - 0961-0006
VL - 45
SP - 335
EP - 346
JO - Journal of Librarianship and Information Science
JF - Journal of Librarianship and Information Science
IS - 4
ER -