Technologies, knowledge and truth: the three dimensions of information literacy of university students in Slovakia

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 285-303
Author(s):  
Jakub Fázik ◽  
Jela Steinerová
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Phenomenographic Study ◽  
One Year ◽  
Concept Of Information ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
Literacy Experience

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to inform on results of the study based on the dissertation project – the study of newcoming university students and their information literacy experience. It describes the three categories of information literacy experience as perceived by these students.Design/methodology/approachThe document is based on a qualitative phenomenographic study of 40 first-year undergraduate students of teacher education programs from five faculties of Comenius University in Bratislava. Data were collected from each participant in two stages by three methods: written statements, drawings and interviews.FindingsThe phenomenographic analysis results in three categories of information literacy: (1) the conception of digital technologies, (2) the conception of knowledge and (3) the conception of truth. The outcome space presented by two alternative models points to a strong interrelation of all three categories. The resulting conceptions point to the diversity of the concept of information literacy in relation to other types of literacies, especially digital, reading and media literacy, as well as to intersections with other scientific disciplines such as psychology, cognitive science or philosophy.Research limitations/implicationsThe most important limits of this qualitative research are the low numbers of participants and the high degree of subjectivity in data evaluation. For this reason, a verification study was carried out one-year later.Originality/valueAlthough phenomenographic studies of information literacy in the educational context are quite common, the third category of this study brings a new contribution to the information literacy theory – the dimension of truth or truthfulness of information.

Entrepreneurial learning as an effectual process

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 631-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dag Håkon Haneberg
Keyword(s):  
Real Life ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Organisational Learning ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
New Venture ◽  
Entrepreneurial Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Characteristics ◽  
One Year ◽  
Multiple Actors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address how entrepreneurial learning may be understood as an effectual process in the early phase of venture creation. Design/methodology/approach Previous research is used to develop a conceptual frame of reference, which is further developed through a longitudinal qualitative case study of five new venture teams. Conceptualising these teams’ learning as sequences of events over a one-year period provides rich insight from real-life processes. Findings A conceptual model of how entrepreneurial learning may be understood as an effectual process is presented. The interactions and interdependencies between nine process characteristics along three main dimensions in the process, activity, multiple actors and context-dependent, demonstrate how the process tie together as a whole. Research limitations/implications The present paper argues for further cross-fertilisation of entrepreneurial learning and effectuation research and showcases how studies of entrepreneurial learning may contribute to organisational learning in entrepreneurial ventures. The conceptualisation of characteristics and dimensions aims to support future process studies by suggesting a framework for analysing process events in longitudinal studies. Originality/value Previous research has already established how activities are central to entrepreneurial learning and emphasised that what constitutes the two dimensions of multiple actors and context-dependence is important. The present paper contributes to entrepreneurial learning with an enhanced understanding of why and how the three dimensions are important as well as interdependent and mutually interactive. The present paper also contributes to organisational learning by extending the understanding of learning in emerging entrepreneurial organisations.

Resistance to Information Literacy! Towards a Model of Information Literacy for Undergraduate Students: An Exploratory Study

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Lamoureux
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Undergraduate University Students ◽  
Premier Cycle

Research Roundtable: Undergraduate university students benefit from information literacy (IL) instructions and yet they resist learning IL. This research proposes to explore the factors responsible for students’ resistance to IL in order to create a conceptual model and to improve information literacy instruction.Tables rondes: Les étudiants universitaires de premier cycle tirent avantage de séances d’enseignement de la maîtrise de l’information et malgré tout, ils font preuve de résistance. Ce processus de recherche explore les facteurs responsables de la résistances des étudiants afin de créer un modèle conceptuel et d’améliorer l’enseignement de la maîtrise de l’information.

Factors influencing career choice of tertiary students in Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (9) ◽  
pp. 992-1008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Godfred M.Y. Owusu ◽  
Anthony Essel-Anderson ◽  
Teddy Ossei Kwakye ◽  
Rita Amoah Bekoe ◽  
Charles Gyamfi Ofori
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Career Choice ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Career Choices ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Intrinsic Value ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Attractive Option

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that influence Ghanaian tertiary students’ career choices. The paper explores the dimensionality of the career choice factors within the Ghanaian context and also ascertains their degree of influence on students’ career choices. Design/methodology/approach The study employs survey method of research and a set of questionnaire was used to examine the factors that influence students’ career choices. A total of 354 undergraduate students from the Ashesi University College in Ghana participated in the study. Factor analysis was conducted on the career choice factors and differences in response between science and business students were ascertained by means of independent sample t-test. Findings The findings of this study indicate that university students in Ghana place much premium on intrinsic value and employability/financial prospect in their career choice decisions than such factors as prestige and desired working conditions. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study are relevant for policymakers and tertiary education providers interested in making the study of science an attractive option for university students in Ghana. Originality/value The findings of this paper highlight some of the underlining reasons for the unpopularity of the study of sciences among university students in Ghana.

Examining burnout in employed university students

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin M. Schramer ◽  
Carolyn M. Rauti ◽  
Arief B. Kartolo ◽  
Catherine T. Kwantes
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Scale Validation ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Convergent And Divergent Validity ◽  
Student Burnout ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
The University

Purpose Burnout has been studied by organizational researchers for nearly 50 years (Maslach and Schaufeli, 2017; Schaufeli et al., 2009); however, little attention is given to burnout experienced by employed students who may be prone to the symptoms of burnout as they juggle multiple demanding roles. Burnout in employed students has previously been conceptualized as a bi-factor model consisting of three dimensions: general burnout, apathy and exhaustion (see Rauti et al., 2019 for further information). The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a novel and theoretically driven tool to assess burnout in employed students. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 239 employed undergraduate students from a university in southwestern Ontario completed an online survey which included the University of Windsor Employed Student Burnout Survey. Participants also completed six additional measures for scale validation purposes. Findings Confirmatory factor analysis supported a four-factor model of the employed student burnout scale: apathy toward employment, exhaustion toward employment, apathy toward academics and exhaustion toward academics. The findings also supported a bi-factor version of the four-factor model. Correlation analyses provided evidence for convergent and divergent validity. Originality/value The experience of burnout for employed students is unique as employed students balance the demands of work and school simultaneously. This research suggests that experiences of burnout from work and burnout from school may be distinct from one another and that burnout is context specific.

Fun 2 fit aerobics: the misadventures of Amy and Azi and a Malaysian start up!

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Amran Rasli ◽  
Rosman Yusoff ◽  
Huam Hon Tat
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Business World ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Planning And Control ◽  
Fitness Industry ◽  
One Year ◽  
And Control ◽  
Starting A Business

Subject area Entrepreneurship. Study level/applicability First year undergraduate students in business and management. Case overview “The Misadventures of Amy and Azi” case presents a brief historical perspective of two partners' venture into the aerobic and fitness industry. The case discusses the partners' foray into the business world armed with great determination and a one year business plan but without proper understanding of the operational requirements of running a business. Though successful in the launching of the first studio, the initial success had blinded the vision of one of the partners, Azi who wanted to open another branch quickly. After a few months of operation, they realized that the second studio was a failure and had sapped the profit from the first centre. To make matter worse, the two partners are stuck with the second studio and have to find another premise for the first studio due to short-sightedness when signing the rental agreement. Expected learning outcomes The case study enables the students to: understand the current business environment of fitness industry in Malaysia, appreciate the need for proper planning and control in starting a business, to be aware of the importance of understanding legal implications in starting a business, the need to conduct proper market research before starting and to understand multi-cultural and multi-religion issues in Malaysia. Supplementary materials Teaching note.

scholarly journals Information literacy

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 582-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoff Walton ◽  
Jamie Cleland
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Peer Assessment ◽  
Academic Discipline ◽  
Journal Article ◽  
Discussion Board ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practice Architectures ◽  
Online Conversation ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a qualitative investigation into whether online textual postings, produced by undergraduate students as part of an undergraduate module, can demonstrate their information literacy (IL) capabilities as a discursive competence and socially enacted practice. It also asks whether these online postings embody power relations between students, tutors and librarians. Design/methodology/approach Foucault’s notion of discursive competence and the separate but complementary concept of practice architectures (specifically focussing on “sayings”) devised by Lloyd were used as thematic lenses to categorise online discussion board postings from a formative online peer assessment exercise created for first-year UK undergraduate students. Online postings were the node of analysis used to identify patterns of language across online conversation. These postings were inductively analysed through manual content analysis. Subject’s responses were initially categorised using open coding. Findings Postings appeared to embody student’s discursive competence and information practice in IL, especially their level of information discernment and what constituted a quality “reference” for an assignment. However, they also demonstrated that the notion of “references” (information artefacts such as a journal article) perform a certain function in reproducing the discursive practices of an academic discipline as an agreed construct between tutor, student and librarian. Practical implications Students were engaged in the process of becoming good scholars by using appropriate online postings to create valid arguments through assessing other’s work, but what they did not do was question received meanings regarding the quality of information they used as evidence. Far from exhibiting the desired outcome of critical thinking (a cornerstone of IL) students who appeared most articulate in discussion tended to emulate the “strong discourse” put forward by their tutors and librarians. Originality/value This research uses practice architectures and discourse analysis to analyse students’ IL capabilities and the context in which they are developed. An approach not employed hitherto. This has practical implications for the ways in which academics and librarians introduce students to the academic discourse of their discipline and the ways in which the production, communication and exchange of information in academic contexts is characterised.

scholarly journals Communication Skills among Undergraduate Students at Al-Quds University

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 136
Author(s):  
Suheir Suliman Sabbah ◽  
Fadwa Hallabieh ◽  
Ola Hussein
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Listening Skill ◽  
Medium Level ◽  
Speaking Skill ◽  
High Level ◽  
Academic Year

This study aimed to investigate the communication skills among undergraduate students at Al-Quds University. The researcher obtained responses from (193) undergraduate students enrolled in B.A. program. The researcher used the questionnaire of Hamidat (2007) which composed of (32) statements divided into four areas: listening skill, speaking skill, the skill of understanding others, and controlling emotions skill. The results revealed that university students have achieved a high level of communication skills in three dimensions (listening, speaking, and understanding others). It also showed a medium level in controlling emotions. Moreover, the results showed that there were no significant differences in the level of communication skills according to gender, faculty, or academic year.

scholarly journals Witnessing entrepreneurial perceptions and proclivity in university students

2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 459-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Murray ◽  
Robert James Crammond
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intention ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
University Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities

PurposeThis paper analyses the transition of university students from initial perceptions of enterprise to potentially heightened levels of proclivity towards creative behaviours and future entrepreneurial activity.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a positivist approach, an intention-based scorecard survey targeted to two cohorts totalling 75 undergraduate students leading to 150 responses at a Scottish university. These were circulated at start and end sessions of four relevant courses, to establish a measure for self-evaluation with respect to perception and proclivity.FindingsThe data gathered from the Entrepreneurial Scorecard emphasised differences in perception and proclivity between the two cohorts, namely creativity, risk-taking, leadership and business aspiration. This re-emphasised the three identified themes: awareness through trait identification; autonomy through developing enterprising skills; and achievement through practicing entrepreneurial activities. This formed the basis for our novel model in supporting the entrepreneurial development of students: The Perception to Proclivity Process Model.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focusses on a single case and further research within other institutions and domains is encouraged to contextually test the transferability of the two key outputs: the Entrepreneurial Scorecard and the Perception to Proclivity Process Model.Practical implicationsThe practical output of this research is a novel tool for evaluating entrepreneurial perceptions and proclivity through the scorecard. This study adds to the existing research base around entrepreneurial intention and action whilst providing a new model for a guiding framework for the entrepreneurial student and educator journey.Originality/valueThis paper's approach outlines many themes and inherent questions of concern to enterprise educators and university management towards the creation, maintenance, or development of an enterprise course or programme. This research introduces the concepts of entrepreneurial perception and entrepreneurial proclivity, explaining the important role they play in developing students. Additionally, the scorecard has potential for application in a longitudinal context as a means of establishing potential shifts in entrepreneurial perception and proclivity. However, the application is not limited to the scope of higher education, with clear potential to apply this tool and approach within other domains.

Endorsement and visual complexity in food advertising on Instagram

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 659-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sony Kusumasondjaja ◽  
Fandy Tjiptono
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Visual Complexity ◽  
Purchase Intentions ◽  
Food Advertising ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Complexity Result ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the differences in consumer pleasure, arousal and purchase intention when consumers encounter food advertising on Instagram using different endorsers and visual complexity levels. Design/methodology/approach An experimental design was conducted involving 180 undergraduate students from several universities in Surabaya, Indonesia. The participants had actively used Instagram for at least one year. Findings Food ads endorsed by a celebrity generate more pleasure and arousal than those endorsed by food experts. Food advertising using high levels of visual complexity cues generates more pleasure and arousal than less complex advertising. However, less complex food ads using food experts create greater pleasure than those endorsed by celebrities. Consumer pleasure and arousal were significant mediators of the impact of endorser type and visual complexity on consumer purchase intentions. Practical implications As celebrities and higher levels of visual complexity result in more favorable responses to Instagram ads, food marketers need to consider increasing visual complexity when using celebrities in advertising by adding more objects, using more colors, objects, or textures and incorporating asymmetric elements in the advertisements. Originality/value This is one of the few studies comparing the effectiveness of celebrity and expert endorsers in Instagram advertising. Also, this research extends the existing knowledge about visual complexity in the context of social media advertising.

Do pro-social students care more for the environment?

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 761-783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haimanti Bhattacharya
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quantile Regression Analysis ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to use pro-social and pro-environment attitudes as indicators of social and environmental sustainability to empirically examine the relationship between the two pillars of sustainability. Design/methodology/approach Self-reported survey responses of undergraduate students of the University of Utah are used for conducting a two-stage quantile regression analysis wherein social support serves as an instrument for identifying pro-social attitude for estimating the relationship between pro-social and pro-environment attitudes. Findings The estimates show that students who receive more social support tend to be more pro-social, and more pro-social students are more pro-environment. Research limitations/implications University students may not necessarily be representative of the broader human society. Studies need to examine this question for different segments of the society. Originality/value These results reiterate that universities can enhance sustainability education by adopting a more holistic approach wherein social and environmental sustainability are co-integrated. Additionally, by strengthening their role as a vital source of social support for students, universities can further enhance the synergistic relationship between pro-social and pro-environment attitudes of university students.

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