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Information Overload as a Burden and a Challenge. What Can We Learn for Information Literacy?

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Information Experience and Information Literacy (ECIL 2023)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 2043))

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Abstract

The problem with information overload today is not only the quantity of information, but also its reliability and emotional aspects. Specifically, COVID-19 or fake news are the factors that increase the problem. The aim of the study was to indicate the challenges to information literacy, based on the results of a national Information Overload (IO) survey. The Information Overload Scale (IOS) was used in the study of Polish Internet users aged 15 and older. IOS focuses on emotional aspects and subjective perceptions of information overload, thus revealing individual perceptions of one's information skills. The results show a reduction in perceived burdens between 2021 and 2022, presumably linked to a suspension of lockdowns and the resignation of online work. The way to respond to the elements of perceived IO may be a tip for information literacy education that is tailored to a specific social group and reflects the challenges of time and circumstances.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

    Małgorzata Kisilowska-Szurmińska

Authors
  1. Małgorzata Kisilowska-Szurmińska
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Małgorzata Kisilowska-Szurmińska .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye

    Serap Kurbanoğlu

  2. University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

    Sonja Špiranec

  3. Université Gustav Eiffel, Paris, France

    Joumana Boustany

  4. Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye

    Yurdagül Ünal

  5. Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye

    İpek Şencan

  6. University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

    Denis Kos

  7. University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Esther Grassian

  8. University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Diane Mizrachi

  9. The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Loriene Roy

Appendix

Appendix

The Information Overload Scale items (Williamson, Eaker, & Lounsbury, 2012).

  1. 1.

    I have to manage so much information in my daily life that it takes me a long time to complete even simple tasks.

  2. 2.

    I regularly feel overwhelmed by too much information these days.

  3. 3.

    It is sometimes hard for me to concentrate because of all the information I have to assimilate.

  4. 4.

    There is so much information available on topics of interest to me that I have trouble choosing what is important and what’s not.

  5. 5.

    I have to process so much information that it frequently takes me too long to get things done in a timely manner.

  6. 6.

    I feel overwhelmed learning a new subject or topic because there is so much information.

  7. 7.

    I am confronted by an avalanche of Email, phone and text messages each day.

  8. 8.

    When I search for information on a topic of interest to me, I usually get too much rather than too little information.

  9. 9.

    I have so much information to manage on a daily basis that it is hard for me to prioritize tasks.

  10. 10.

    I am stressed out by the sheer volume of information I have to manage on a daily basis.

  11. 11.

    It seems like the volume of information available is increasing exponentially in a relatively short period of time.

  12. 12.

    I feel like I can’t keep up with all the new developments in my area of expertise.

  13. 13.

    I sometimes feel numb and incapable of action because of all the information I have to process on a daily basis.

  14. 14.

    I feel like my attention span is becoming shorter and shorter because of information overload.

  15. 15.

    I regularly feel pressed for time because of all the information I have to deal with.

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© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

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Kisilowska-Szurmińska, M. (2024). Information Overload as a Burden and a Challenge. What Can We Learn for Information Literacy?. In: Kurbanoğlu, S., et al. Information Experience and Information Literacy. ECIL 2023. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 2043. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52998-6_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52998-6_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-52997-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-52998-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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