Profiling Information Literacy in Higher Education : Traces of a Local Longitudinal Study

Abstract

This article reports on a longitudinal study that seeks to understand university students’ information-literacy profiles in Colombian universities. The study draws on an understanding of information literacy based on a semiotic and sociocultural framework. Data was gathered at two moments between 2009 and 2012 using an information-literacy-profile questionnaire (ILPQ), and out loud protocols while doing an academic task and in-depth interviews. Findings demonstrate that university students tend to remain in the same information literacy profile during their university studies. Results also show a tendency to move between profiles qualifying processes of access, evaluation and use of information for academic tasks. These findings bring in a number of recommendations for higher education discussed at the end of the article.