15 Information Literacy Interview Questions and Answers

Information literacy is a set of skills that allows individuals to find, evaluate, and use information effectively. Information literacy is important for students, professionals, and everyday citizens in our increasingly digital world.

While the term “information literacy” is relatively new, the concept has been around for centuries. In the early days of printing, only a small number of people had the ability to read and write. This gave them a great deal of power and influence over those who could not. Today, we live in a world where nearly everyone can read and write, but access to information is still unequal. Those who can effectively find, evaluate, and use information have a significant advantage over those who cannot.

The good news is that information literacy skills can be learned by anyone. With a little effort, anyone can become more information literate. And, as our world becomes increasingly digital, these skills are more important than ever.

One way to become more information literate is to practice answering interview questions about information literacy. By preparing for these questions, you can hone your skills and show potential employers that you are an information-literate individual.

1. What is information literacy?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of information literacy. It also allows you to show the interviewer that you understand what it means to be an information literate individual. When answering this question, define information literacy and explain why it’s important for students to learn about it.

Example: “Information literacy is the ability to find, evaluate and use information effectively. I believe that all students should have access to information literacy skills because they can help them in their future careers. For example, if someone wants to become a doctor, they will need to know how to search for medical information online. If they don’t have these skills, they may not be able to do their job properly.”

2. Why is information literacy important?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you understand the importance of information literacy. It also allows you to explain how it has helped you in your previous roles.

Example: “Information literacy is important because it helps students learn how to find and evaluate sources, which can help them throughout their academic careers. I believe it’s crucial for students to develop these skills early on so they’re prepared when they enter the workforce. In my last role as an IT specialist at a local library, I worked with many students who were looking for resources to complete assignments or answer questions. I was able to teach them how to use our databases to search for credible sources and how to determine if those sources are valid.”

3. Can you explain the difference between data and information?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of information literacy skills. It’s important for an information specialist to understand the difference between data and information, as well as how they can use both effectively. Your answer should include two definitions that clearly outline each term.

Example: “Data is raw facts or figures that are collected from research. Information is data that has been processed into meaningful content. For example, if I were looking at a graph showing the average temperature in my city over the last five years, this would be considered data. If I then used this data to create a report on the average temperatures during different seasons, it would now be considered information.”

4. Is it possible to use information without knowing where it comes from? Or what are its limitations?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your understanding of information literacy skills. It also helps them understand how you apply these skills in your daily life and work.

Example: “Yes, it’s possible to use information without knowing where it comes from or what its limitations are. However, I believe that this can be dangerous because we may not know if the information is accurate or reliable. In my previous role as an IT specialist, I had to train many employees on how to use databases and search engines effectively. I would always make sure they understood the importance of verifying sources and researching any limitations of the information.”

5. How can a person evaluate the quality of information that they come across on the internet?

This question can help an interviewer assess your ability to apply information literacy skills in a real-world setting. When answering, you can describe the steps you take when evaluating online content and how it helps you make better decisions.

Example: “I use several criteria to evaluate the quality of information I find on the internet. First, I look at who is providing the information. If it’s a credible source like a university or government agency, then I know that the information is likely accurate. Next, I check for any disclaimers or disclosures about sponsored content. Finally, I read through the website’s privacy policy to see what data they are collecting from me.”

6. What kinds of questions should you ask yourself when evaluating an article or some other piece of information for authenticity?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your critical thinking skills and how you apply them to information literacy. In your answer, try to demonstrate that you can use a variety of methods to evaluate the credibility of an article or other piece of information.

Example: “I think it’s important to consider who wrote the article or created the content and what their background is. I also look at the sources they used for research and whether those sources are credible themselves. If there aren’t any sources listed, I might be more skeptical about the authenticity of the information. Another thing I do is check if the website has advertisements on it. If so, I’m usually wary because it could mean the site is trying to make money off of me rather than provide me with valuable information.”

7. What’s your opinion about using Wikipedia as a source of information?

This question is a great way to see how you feel about using Wikipedia as an information source. It’s important for librarians to be able to guide their patrons through the process of finding credible sources, and your answer will show the interviewer whether or not you’re comfortable with this practice.

Example: “I think it’s important that students learn early on how to use Wikipedia as a starting point for research. While it can be a good resource for background information, I always encourage my students to look at the ‘citation needed’ tags when they find something interesting. This helps them understand that just because something is online doesn’t mean it’s true.”

8. Do you think there is such thing as too much information? If yes, then why?

This question is a great way to see how you approach information overload. It also helps the interviewer understand your thought process and reasoning behind it.

Example: “Yes, I do think there’s such thing as too much information. However, I don’t believe that this means we should stop seeking out new information or sources. Instead, I think we need to learn how to filter through all of the information we’re given so we can find what’s most important to us. This will help us avoid information overload while still being able to access the information we need.”

9. Who owns the rights to personal data like email addresses, tweets, videos, etc.?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of data ownership and privacy rights. It’s important that you understand who owns personal data, how it can be used and when it should be shared with others.

Example: “The owner of any digital information has complete control over its use and distribution. This means that I am responsible for protecting my own private information from unauthorized access or theft. However, there are times when I may choose to share this information with third parties if I feel comfortable doing so.”

10. Where does our personal information go once we post it on social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, etc.?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of information literacy skills and how they apply to social media. When answering this question, it can be helpful to explain the process in which you would go about finding where personal information goes on these sites.

Example: “When we post our personal information on social media sites like Twitter, Facebook or Snapchat, that information gets stored in their databases. These companies then sell access to those databases to advertisers who want to target specific groups of people based on what they’ve posted online. This allows them to create ads that are more relevant to us.”

11. How do companies like Google, Amazon, Apple, IBM, Microsoft make money?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the information literacy skills you learned in school. It also shows that the interviewer wants to see how well you can apply those skills to real-world situations.

Example: “Google, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft all make money by selling software or hardware. IBM makes money from consulting services and providing technology solutions for businesses. These companies are constantly developing new products and services to keep up with the ever-changing technological landscape.”

12. What kind of information do these companies collect about us?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the information-gathering process and how it affects consumers. It also shows that you are aware of the privacy concerns surrounding these companies.

Example: “The first thing I would do is look at their terms of service, which should outline what kind of data they collect about us. For example, Google collects our search history, location history, YouTube history, browsing history, voice searches, device activity and more. Facebook collects our name, profile photo, gender, username, email address, friend list, birthday, current city, hometown, photos, videos, status updates, likes and more. Amazon collects our shopping history, wish lists, purchase history, IP addresses, physical addresses, phone numbers, credit card details and more.”

13. Why do you think private companies have become so powerful in recent years?

This question is a great way to gauge your political views and opinions on the current state of affairs. It also allows you to show how you can use critical thinking skills to analyze complex issues.

Example: “I think private companies have become so powerful in recent years because they are able to influence public opinion through their advertising campaigns. This has allowed them to create an environment where people feel like they need certain products or services, even if they don’t. I believe that this is dangerous because it creates a situation where consumers aren’t making informed decisions about what they buy.”

14. What is your understanding of Intellectual Property Rights in the context of information?

Intellectual property rights are a common topic in information literacy. This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the subject and how you apply it in real-world situations.

Example: “Intellectual property rights, or IP rights, refer to the legal protections that safeguard creative works from being used without permission. In my experience, I’ve seen students use copyrighted materials for their assignments without citing them properly. When this happens, they’re violating copyright law and could be penalized by their school.

I always make sure to explain the importance of respecting intellectual property rights when teaching students about research methods. I also encourage them to cite all sources so that they can avoid any issues with plagiarism.”

15. What are some simple techniques you would recommend to someone who wants to improve their information-gathering skills?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you have experience helping others develop information literacy skills. You can use this opportunity to share some of the techniques you’ve used in the past and how they helped you or your students improve their research skills.

Example: “I would recommend starting with simple search terms, like synonyms and abbreviations. This helps people find more relevant results when searching for information online. Another technique I’ve found helpful is using advanced search functions on websites. For example, if you’re looking for information about a specific topic, you can enter keywords into the website’s search bar and then select ‘site’ from the drop-down menu. This will help narrow down your search to only include pages within the site.”