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Evaluation Strategies of School Students Accessing Health Information in Social Media Videos: A Case Study Investigation
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Evaluation Strategies of School Students Accessing Health Information in Social Media Videos: A Case Study Investigation

Kay Oddone and Margaret Merga
Journal of library administration, Vol.65(2), pp.214-234
17/02/2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2024.2437964
Appears in  Recent Faculty of Education Publications

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Abstract

Information Science & Library Science Science & Technology Technology
Health literacy is essential for students to access, comprehend, and utilize health information. Defined as a socially derived practice that connects individuals to various information sources, aiding their decision-making relating to health and wellbeing, research indicates that health literacy is linked to better health outcomes and longevity, and when cultivated in children and adolescents, promotes lifelong healthy behaviors. A crucial aspect of health literacy for young people is digital health literacy (DHL), which involves skills to source, understand, and assess the credibility of online health information. DHL is vital as the global digital landscape evolves. With young people increasingly using the internet primarily to find information, the online space functions as a significant resource for health information. This qualitative research employs surveys and think aloud interviews to explore how students currently evaluate online information from online video-sharing sites. An inductive approach using an instrumental qualitative case study design was chosen to deeply understand the strategies and approaches students use to evaluate online information accessed via these platforms. Findings indicate that although students may recognize the risk of misleading information on social media, they may lack comprehensive strategies to assess credibility. School library professionals, in collaboration with teachers, can play a crucial role in developing students' DHL by leveraging their expertise in information literacy. Further research is necessary to determine the generalizability of these findings and enhance students' abilities to navigate and evaluate the complex digital information landscape.

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