The American Library Association defines Information Literacy as a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information. Information Literacy is particularly important now due to our rapidly changing media landscape. The internet provides us with an abundance of information from a diverse array of perspectives, but with that comes an increased likelihood of encountering dubious information. Dubious information can include but is not limited to:
Misinformation: False, out of context, or outdated information that may or may not have been disseminated with intent to deceive.
EG: A newly published article about climate change that only uses studies from before the year 2000, disregarding more recent data that paints a more up to date picture of the topic.
Disinformation: False information disseminated with the intended purpose being deception.
EG: An article that argues climate change is not occurring by providing intentionally falsified data to support the claim.
To ensure that your research consists of the best information possible, you can refer to the links below to provide guidance for your research.