Examining Energy Information Literacy with an Adaptation of the Everyday Health Information Literacy Screening Tool

Abstract

This study explores energy information literacy by applying an adapted version of an everyday health information literacy (EHIL) screening tool. For this study, the original EHIL tool was modified by adjusting its ten statements to an energy context. Data were collected with an online survey from students present for the academic year in 2016–2017 (n = 11,381) at the University of Oulu. Statistical analyses include an exploratory factor analysis and comparison of mean factor scores. Survey items on respondents’ background were also included in the analyses. The response rate was 12.2% (n = 1,390). The screening tool’s factorial structure was found to be multifaceted and to resemble that of the original EHIL tool with three factors: motivation (‘motivation’), confidence in finding energy information (‘confidence’), and perceived ability to evaluate it (‘evaluation’). Mean factor scores varied by gender and field of study. The study is among the first to examine energy information literacy.