Media and Information Literacy among Postgraduate Students

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to determine the MIL level among postgraduate students of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. Method: This descriptive-analytical research was conducted among 490 postgraduate students in 2020 at a medical sciences university. The data collection tool was a questionnaire that was used before in previous studies. The link of the web-based questionnaire was placed in the student's groups on WhatsApp social media, and was asked to complete it to collect the data. Finally, 227 questionnaires were completed and collected. Data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean score of MIL was moderate. Among the factors related to MIL, the "use" factor obtained the highest means score (3.80±0.50), and the "evaluation" factor obtained the lowest mean score (2.54±0.84). There was a significant relationship between the MIL of students and their gender, age, school, and level of family income. "Learn new content," "earn a good grade, pass a course or upgrade your academic rank,"; and "writing in a way that leads to new knowledge" obtained the highest mean scores among the options. The lowest mean scores were related to "pay attention to the author's reputation (for example, his work experience, degree or place of work)"; "paying attention to the reputation of a publisher or media producer," and "Pay attention to which organization supervises the distribution and dissemination of the intended media and what are the rules about it?" Conclusion: Since the students were studying at the postgraduate level, it requires special attention to improve their literacy level. University officials should hold classes and workshops, and even conferences on topics related to the evaluation of media and information, including critical thinking, problem-solving, questioning, and identifying credible media resources to improve the level of MIL of students.