How information literacy influences creative skills among medical students? The mediating role of lifelong learning

This research investigated the influence of information literacy on the creative skills of medical students through the mediation of lifelong learning. A cross-sectional survey was conducted for data collection among medical students, recruited through a stratified convenient sampling procedure, of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The questionnaire was personally administered by visiting each college with written permission. A total of 473 survey responses were collected and analysed using the partial least squares structural equation modelling. The results revealed that the information literacy of medical students had a direct and indirect but positive influence on their creative skills. Lifelong learning not had a direct but positive effect on creative skills but also mediated the relationship between information literacy and creative skills. The empirical evidence for how information literacy influences creative skills through the mediated role of lifelong learning may inform policy and practice for information literacy instructions. These results may help academicians and information specialists to initiate a credited or integrated course on information literacy in the curriculum of medical students not only in Pakistan but also in other developing countries. This research would be a worthwhile contribution to the existing research on information literacy as the mediated role of lifelong learning between information literacy and creative skills has never been examined so far.

Information Literacy as a Predictor of Work Performance: The Mediating Role of Lifelong Learning and Creativity

This study examined the effect of information literacy (IL) on work performance with mediating role of lifelong learning and creativity among journalists in Pakistan. A cross-sectional survey using an online questionnaire was conducted in the press clubs of four provinces (e.g., Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Baluchistan) and the federal capital Islamabad for data collection. The received 1084 responses were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modelling. The results indicated that IL of journalists had a direct and indirect but positive influence on their work performance. The lifelong learning and creativity skills also mediated the relationship between IL and work performance. This study provided empirical evidence for how IL directly influence work performance and indirectly with the mediated role of lifelong learning and creativity. These pragmatic insights may inform academicians and enterprises about the IL importance at workplace for enhancement of organizational performance and achieving a competitive advantage. Such results may also initiate an instruction program for existing as well as for prospective journalists to impart IL education. This study could be a worthy contribution to the existing IL research in the workplace context in general and of journalists' workplace in particular as no such study has appeared so far.

The role of information communication technologies as a moderator of knowledge creation and knowledge sharing in improving the quality of healthcare services

This study examines the role of knowledge creation, knowledge sharing and information communication technologies, which are organizational factors that influence the quality of healthcare services. In today’s knowledge-intensive environment, understanding and gaining in-depth knowledge on how to improve the quality of healthcare services is gaining in importance and recognition. Quantitative data collected in 2019 with 151 respondents employed in healthcare organizations was used. Running a series of hierarchical linear regression models, we found a significant positive relationship between knowledge creation and quality of healthcare services, and a significant positive relationship between knowledge sharing and quality of healthcare services. Empirical data additionally provides support for information communication technologies that act as a moderator both in the relationship between knowledge creation and knowledge sharing with quality of healthcare services. With our data, we provide empirical backing for the impact of knowledge creation, knowledge sharing and information communication technologies on the quality of healthcare services that are provided by Montenegrin healthcare organizations. Our paper offers theoretical and practical implications derived from our research study.

Information skills and literacy in investigative journalism in the social media era

The study aims to determine the preferred information skills and evaluate information literacy and skills in the social media era on the example of investigative journalism to surmount the majority of challenges it faces. The challenge-based survey conducted among 281 reporting journalists from various countries revealed that their information skills and literacy are average. The survey results show that half of the respondents (52%) recognise the importance of these characteristics, while 38% are sure that information literacy and skills are not necessary and 10% chose the variant ‘I am not sure’. As the indicators show, the main aim for investigative journalists’ writing is to influence the society’s mind about some facts presented in the reports (40%). Only 25% of respondents write with the purpose to present reliable information that indicates the level of their information literacy. The latest strategies in the professional development of investigative journalists in modern social media era allow overcoming the major challenges, including those related to the influence and interests of third parties. The practical significance and prospects of further research are explained by the possibility of using the obtained statistical data to increase the level of information literacy and skills not only of investigative journalists, but also other specialists who work with information.

Work Performance Self-Efficacy of Pakistani University Librarians

This research aims to investigate the work performance self-efficacy of university librarians using a cross-sectional survey method. The data were collected from currently working 200 university librarians at Higher Education Commission (HEC) recognized public and private sector universities in Punjab, Pakistan by adopting a validated and reliable questionnaire. Survey results indicate that university librarians focus on work goals and are therefore able to meet deadlines through planning and time management. They make efforts to update knowledge and skills pertaining to their job by actively participating in meetings and social gatherings. They are not harmful to their respective institutes and avoid sharing any negative aspect with other colleagues. A relationship is found between task and contextual performance, whereas there is no significant association between counterproductive work behavior and task performance. No correlation is observed between work performance self-efficacy and type of organization (public vs. private) in which university librarians are currently working. Furthermore, designations of the study participants do not affect their work performance self-efficacy, however, gender, age, and experience appear to be the predictors of job performance self-efficacy. These findings provide a pragmatic insight into work performance self-efficacy of university librarians that can be used as a guide in developing cohesive and useful directions for a need-based performance development training program.

Harmonious work passion and work-related internet information seeking among nurses: The mediating role of intrinsic motivation

AIM

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between nurses' harmonious work passion and work-related internet information seeking. In doing so, we examine intrinsic motivation as an underlying mechanism of this relationship.

BACKGROUND

Nurses seek and utilize information to respond effectively to their tasks and to develop their skills and competencies. Internet consists one of the easiest and richest sources of information. Both nurses and organizations need to identify potential antecedents of work-related internet information seeking.

METHODS

Data were collected from 239 nurses and nurse assistants in a Greek University hospital and were analysed using bootstrap analysis with PROCESS macro.

RESULTS

Harmonious work passion was positively related to intrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation related positively to work-related internet information seeking. The mediating role of intrinsic motivation was also supported.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses with harmonious work passion seek more regularly work-related information on the internet because they experience high levels of intrinsic motivation.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Health care organizations and managers need to recruit passionate nurses and cultivate a workplace culture that will trigger higher levels of harmonious work passion. Recruitment tools and methods such as interviews, situational judgement tests or role playing could be very beneficial towards uncovering potential candidates with an elevated passion for their work.

Seven pillars and five minds: small business workplace information literacy

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a theoretical framework for understanding information literacy (IL) within the context of a small business workplace environment. The theoretical framework developed related IL competencies to competencies for success as described by the psychologist Howard Gardner in his book “Five Minds for the Future”.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical framework was developed using the CILIP Seven Pillars for IL and Howard Gardner’s Five Minds theory. Indicative connections between the Seven Pillars and Five Minds were identified by the researchers. The framework was tested through analysis of transcripts from qualitative interviews conducted with four small business owners.

Findings

Connections were found between the Seven Pillars and the Five Minds; some which had been projected by the researchers and others which had not. The theoretical framework aided description of and understanding of IL within small business workplace environments.

Research limitations/implications

A small sample size limits the generalizability of the findings, and further testing of the framework is required. The findings do, however, suggest that the context in which IL manifests remains significant and should be further examined in wider and divergent contexts.

Originality/value

Using theory from psychology paired with a well-known theory of IL to develop a new theoretical framework is novel. The framework developed offers a new way of understanding the role of IL within the context of small business workplaces.