Information heuristics of information literate people

Abstract

It is confirmed through information users’ daily activities that they apply many shortcuts, ignore some information and use heuristics – particularly in electronic social networking environments. The critical analysis of the literature and research findings are used as a base to identify and create a short (preliminary) inventory of information heuristics that people use at various stages of seeking and conducting source evaluation (credibility assessment) to solve their everyday information problems. The use of heuristics (understood as sense-making activities that help information users to make a satisfying choice of the sources and distinguish the content of various quality and sufficiency) is discussed in the context of information literacy (IL) concept. The analysis of heuristics offers some additional explanation of online information behavior and personal information management strategies. The result of the research is a proposal to treat heuristics as intuitive but not accidental search tactics based on experience that should be included in IL training.