Self-efficacy: a concept closely linked to information literacy and lifelong learning

This paper is primarily concerned with self-efficacy in the context of information literacy. The focus is first on the concept of self-efficacy, followed by attainment of self-efficacy beliefs. Finally, findings of the research, the aim of which was to explore students’ (who enrolled in the Department of Information Management, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey) perceived self-efficacy for information and computer literacy, are scrutinized. Results of the research indicate no significant year-to-year changes, although the students have a positive perceived self-efficacy for information literacy. Students’ self-efficacy beliefs regarding information literacy and computers are correlated. Introduction The most salient characteristic of today’s societies is that they are in a constantly changing process. While the amount of information increases, technology gains momentum and the use of technology gradually becomes widespread. There is no occupation today, which hasn’t been affected by these changes. It is almost obligatory for any individual who has completed his/her formal education to become acquainted with these new developments. Societies of the information age need confident, independent, self-regulated learners equipped for lifelong learning. Hence, the manpower needed by today’s societies can be described as effective consumers of information who can find, evaluate, use, produce and share information and can also make use of technology in all these activities. Self-regulated learning and information literacy are keystones of lifelong learning. An information literate individual knows how to learn and is capable to achieve lifelong learning. Information literacy[1] is the term being applied to the skills of information problem solving (American Library Association, 2000). Computer literacy, a general understanding of what computers can do, and the skills necessary to use them as an effective tool (Tuckett, 1989, as cited in Bawden, 2001), is a part and prerequisite of information literacy. Computers are important tools for learning, problem solving, communicating and retrieving The Emerald Research Register for this journal is available at The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at http://www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister http://www.emeraldinsight.com/0022-0418.htm The author wishes to thank Dr Akkoyunlu for her help on statistical analysis of the data and the referees who made valuable comments on the initial version of this paper. Self-efficacy