The relationships between university students' information-seeking strategies, social-media specific epistemological beliefs, information literacy, and personality traits

Abstract

Due to doubts about the reliability of information in social media environments, and the epistemological beliefs of individuals who use these media, questioning the source of information and the perception of knowledge structure, is an important research topic. A structural model was constructed to explore structures associated with epistemological beliefs (justification for knowing) and online information-seeking strategies. The model included personality traits and information literacy. Data were collected from 190 university students. PLS-SEM was implemented in the analysis of the data. Analysis revealed that there was a significant relationship between epistemological beliefs specific to social media and information-seeking strategies, and information literacy structure has a direct effect on information-seeking strategies. Agreeableness and neuroticism were related with several dimensions of social media-specific beliefs. It was found that the personality trait which has the greatest effect on online information-seeking strategies is conscientiousness.