Examination of digital citizenship, online information searching strategy and information literacy depending on changing state of experience in using digital technologies during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

As educational processes are adapted to the online environment due to COVID-19 pandemic, digital citizenship and online information searching strategies came into prominence. In this context, the aim of this study is the examination of digital citizenship awareness, online information searching strategies and differentiation of the level of information literacy depending on changing state of experience in using digital technologies before and during COVID-19 pandemic. Also, it is aimed to examine the presence of relations between variables of the research. The study was conducted with the participation of 255 university students. Analyses were performed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). According to the results of the study, during COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in digital citizenship awareness of students who spend more time in social media and the ones who improved digital technology usage skills developed online information searching strategies. According to the model analysed, online information searching strategies and information literacy have an effect on digital citizenship while online information searching strategies have an effect on information literacy. The results of the study showed that the students with higher level of information literacy and online information searching strategies may help them develop digital citizenship awareness.