Supporting academic self-efficacy, academic motivation, and information literacy for students in tertiary institutions

Abstract

Academic self-efficacy, academic motivation, and information literacy are considered crucial to fostering student learning in tertiary institutions. The aim of this study was to examine the information literacy self-efficacy and academic motivation of college students and to identify the predictors of information literacy self-efficacy. The participants included students in their junior and senior years studying nursing, healthcare, and non-healthcare disciplines at a self-financing institution. Data were collected through a quota sampling method using a questionnaire. In total, 504 valid questionnaires were returned. The results indicated a moderate positive correlation between the two variables. The nursing students were found to have lower information literacy self-efficacy scores than those from the other disciplines. The results from a multiple regression analysis showed that the following factors are predictors of information literacy self-efficacy: being a nursing student, total scores for academic motivation, and owning a personal computer. Nurse educators are encouraged to strengthen the information literacy skills of nursing students, as this is an essential component in the application of evidence-based practices in the nursing profession.