Informationskunnighet

Informationskunnighet is the ability to recognize when information is needed and to locate, evaluate, use, and manage information effectively and ethically. It includes critical thinking about information sources, the capacity to distinguish fact from opinion, and the ability to apply information appropriately in decision-making, problem solving, and civic participation.

Core competencies typically include identifying information needs, locating relevant sources, assessing credibility and quality, organizing and managing information, and citing sources to avoid plagiarism. Digital literacy, media literacy, and information ethics are integral parts of informationskunnighet, reflecting the varied contexts in which information is produced and consumed.

Education and policy initiatives promote informationskunnighet through school curricula, university information literacy programs, and library services. In workplaces it supports evidence-based practice, risk assessment, and informed decision making. Public institutions also emphasize transparent communication and accessible information to strengthen citizen participation.

Challenges include misinformation, information overload, and unequal access to information technologies. Cross-language evaluation, interdisciplinary information needs, and rapid changes in information ecosystems test sustained kunnighet. Measuring information literacy remains complex; existing frameworks provide guidance for teaching and assessment, but outcomes depend on context, pedagogy, and organizational support.