Modeling an information literacy programme for undergraduates: A soft systems methodology approach / Nor Edzan Che Nasir

Nor Edzan, Che Nasir (2007) Modeling an information literacy programme for undergraduates: A soft systems methodology approach / Nor Edzan Che Nasir. PhD thesis, Universiti Malaya.

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Abstract

In its simplest form, information literacy is defined as the ability to recognise a need for information and from there on, one is able to locate, retrieve, evaluate and use the procured information effectively. The acquisition of information literacy skills is deemed by many as a necessity for the Information Age and it is termed by many as a life long learning skill. Set against such a background, this study is centred on the issue of information literacy competencies of Malaysian final year ICT undergraduates. The focus is on final year undergraduates at the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia who are enrolled for the Final Year Project course. The Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is used as an investigative approach, which includes both qualitative and quantitative measures. The ALA/ACRL/STS 2005 Information Literacy Standards for Science and Engineering/Technology is used as the benchmark for information literacy skills of the undergraduates. The seven stages of SSM are applied accordingly to fit into the research framework resulting in a five-phase research framework. The findings from Phase 1 indicate that: a) the final year students (n=209) do comply to Standards 1, 2 and 4 of the ALNACRL/STS; b) supervising lecturers (n=l6) do have a high level of expectation from their students and they perceived their students as not conforming to the ALAIACRLISTS Standards; c) academic libraries (n=l6) are committed to providing information literacy programmes and some do offer these programmes; and d) the final year students do exhibit, through their final reports (n=73), a number of performance indicators of the ALAIACRLISTS Standards. An Information Literacy Model Programme was designed, developed and delivered to a group of students (n=5). Their project proposals were analysed and compared to a group (n=9) that was not exposed to the Model Programme. With a significance level at 0.530, the results indicate that there is no difference at the 0.05 level in the total scores of the project proposals of the experimental and the control groups. However, the first group scored better for skills related to credibility and engagement of information; conforming to a citation style; made reference to their citation within the text; demonstrated the ability to synthesise and analyse; and avoided plagiarism. Therefore, intervention through the Model Programme does produce students who are more able and adept in the higher level information skills. The study has demonstrated that SSM can be used as a framework to investigate a problem within the library and information discipline. The ALA/ACRLISTS Standards is used for the first time to benchmark the information literacy skills of Malaysian undergraduates. Apart from that, the findings can contribute significantly to the knowledge and development of information literacy for undergraduates, academics, librarians, university authorities and library associations. Even though there is much work to be done, this study is the first of its kind in Malaysia and is a good "first" move towards the implementation of information literacy programmes in institutions of higher education in Malaysia.

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