Bridging Literacies: Adolescent Processes of Seeking Information Online

• In Event: Saturday Roundtable Session 11:25 am
  In Roundtable Session: Cognition and Literacy Using Digital Technologies (Table 13)

Abstract

The process of navigating online texts for credibility is nuanced as these texts are often prone to biases are shared readily with little fact-checking, generating a need for understanding skills are needed to ensure young people can evaluate these texts efficiently. These texts may also contain harmful messages, particularly for typically marginalized groups. Higher levels of literacies related to online media consumption have been shown to mitigate these negative effects, and may help to limit bias and increase criticality. Though researchers have illuminated underlying processes surrounding online text comprehension, research is limited on these processes in authentic spaces. Utilizing think-aloud, focus group, and observational data, the present study seeks to understand adolescent online research and information-seeking skills.

Author

• Rachel Besharat Mann, Wesleyan University