ir information research
vol. 14 no. 4, December, 2009
In search of credibilty: pupils' information practices in learning environments
Introduction. we aim to create an in-depth understanding of how pupils in upper secondary school negotiate the credibility and authority of information as part of their practices of learning. Particular focus is on the use of user-created resources, such as Wikipedia, where authorship is collective and/or hard to determine.
Method. An ethnographic study was conducted in an upper secondary school class, Methods included observations, group interviews and information seeking diaries in the form of blogs.
Analysis. The empirical material from the class room study was categorised and aggregated into five themes, which emerged as a result of the interplay between the empirical material and a perspective based in socio-cultural theory.
Results. The pupils make credibility assessments based on methods developed for traditional media where, for instance, instance, origin and authorship are important. They employ some user-created sources, notably Wikipeia, because these are easily available, but they are uncertain about when these sources should be considered credible.
Conclusions. In an increasingly diverse media world, pupils' credibility assessments need to be informed by a socio-technical understanding of sources which takes both social and material aspects into account. The diversitity of resources requires that pupils assess credibility for the particular situation in which they use information.
Sundin, O. & Francke, H. (2009). "in search of credibility: pupils' information practices in learning environments" Information Research, 14 (4) paper 418.[Availible at http:InformationR.net/ir/14-4/paper418.html]
I find this resource valuable and becuase it gives me a different perspective on how students are taugh in Sweden. I also found nit resourceful for me because of the diverse media which we have to also assess its credibility. I also liked the fact taht the students are also using blogs, just as we are creating them.