In June 2022, MILA issued a call for proposals for research to produce a comprehensive review (for example, systematic, narrative or an appropriate mix) of research from 2005 onwards about information literacy (IL) and society. Following this, the research contract was awarded to Dr Bruce Ryan and colleagues at Edinburgh Napier University. The project was concluded in November 2023 and a full report is now available on the MILA website.
The aims of the review were to:
- Identify core research into the role that IL plays for different user groups in society
- Identify core research into the barriers/enablers to shaping an information literate population
- Map research methodologies used in the literature and which appear to be most effective
This was MILA’s first commissioned piece of research and, we hope, will set a precedent for future MILA work to extend the evidence base in the area of media literacy and information literacy. For information, the full specification for the project may be viewed here.