Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Investigating the relationship between information literacy and academic performance among students

Document Type : Original Article

Author

. Mohammad Reza Soleymani

Health Information Technology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract
Background: Nowadays, no student can ever pursue the ends of his studies unless he makes
use of his information literacy skills. To become lifelong learners, they do need these skills.
Information literacy is a set of information needed for searching, retrieval, evaluating, and
making best use of information. This study uncovers the relationship between information
literacy and academic performance among students at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.
Materials and Methods: This is a practical study using a survey method. All MA students
in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences make the statistical population for this study,
according to the sample size determined by using Cochran formula 265 samples that were
selected by stratified random sampling. Data collection was through information literacy
questionnaires designed by Davarpanah and Siamak, verified by Library and Information
Sciences experts; and finally, gave a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.83. To determine academic
performance, the average scores of the students in previous semesters were considered.
Results: The information literacy of all other students was significantly higher than medium
except for students at Nursing and Nutrition faculties. The students of Management and
Information Sciences faculty had the highest level of information literacy and students of
nutrition faculty were attributed with the least level. There was no significant difference
between male and female students’ information literacy. We also found out that there was
a significant positive relationship between information literacy and students’ academic
performance in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.Conclusion: Information literacy is
one of the most important factors that leads to educational success. As there is a significant
positive relationship between information literacy and students’ academic performance,
we should necessarily provide them with relative skills dealing with information literacy to
improve their academic performance.

Keywords

Academic performance
information literacy
students
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 4, Issue 4
Summer 2014
Pages 1-4

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