Workplace Information Literacy in the Scientific Field : an Empirical Analysis Using the Semantic Differential Approach

The study focuses on eliciting a semantic concept of Information Literacy by capturing the information worker’s perception of the information process. It is presumed that this perception influences the formation and advancement of Information Literacy at the workplace. The approach is based on the creation of a semantic differential scale. Target group are scientists from the field of natural sciences. The survey shows that five partly correlated principal aspects play a major role: personal motivation, experience, personal and corporate utility, organizational support and information quality. Consequently, fostering adequate information handling at the workplace implies the promotion of its utility e.g. by its integration into the business culture, the provision of high-quality, easy-accessible information by the information services or the library, the integration of relevant trainings and the encouraging of personal motivation by adequate psychological incentives.