Identification of Opportunities and Challenges of Information Literacy in Education and Research: A Meta-Synthesis Approach

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department knowledge and information science, faculty literature and Human Science,, Qom University, Qom, Iran.

Abstract

Purpose: Information literacy, as one of the essential skills in the information and technology age, plays a crucial role in educational and research processes. However, identifying the opportunities and challenges associated with information literacy in these areas requires serious attention. On one hand, opportunities such as access to extensive information resources, search tools, and new technologies enable researchers and students to easily access the information they need and enhance the quality of their research. On the other hand, there are challenges that can hinder the improvement of information literacy in education and research. These challenges include lack of access to credible resources, insufficient training in information literacy, and difficulties in evaluating the quality of information. Additionally, cultural and social differences in access to technology and information can lead to educational inequalities. The aim of this research is to identify the opportunities and challenges of information literacy in education and research based on a meta-synthesis approach.
Method: This study is applied in nature and employs a qualitative approach using meta-synthesis. The statistical population of the present research included Persian articles from the period of  1390 to 1403 and Latin articles from the period of 2000 to 2024 in the field of information literacy in educational and research contexts, which were searched from scientific databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, Ganj Irandoc, Noormags, and Silvica. The present research retrieved 236 studies by reviewing the literature on information literacy in education and research. The number of articles and theses in the Persian databases was 221, while the number of articles in the Latin databases was 15. Some of these articles were excluded due to duplication or irrelevance. Ultimately, 26 studies remained. Therefore, the stages of the present research were conducted based on a seven-step approach, which included formulating research questions, systematically reviewing the literature, searching and selecting appropriate resources, extracting information from the sources, analyzing and synthesizing findings, quality control, and presenting the results.
Findings: Accordingly, the reviewed studies were analyzed and coded into two concepts and two categories focusing on identifying opportunities and challenges of information literacy in education and research. Consequently, 31 opportunities in the field of information literacy in education and 18 opportunities in research were identified, along with 9 challenges in education and 4 challenges in research.
Conclusion: The results indicate that information literacy plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of learning and research. By identifying 31 opportunities in education and 18 in research, the importance of information literacy skills in developing critical thinking, creativity, and innovation is emphasized. Additionally, several challenges, such as the lack of integration of information literacy into curricula and the shortage of technological skills among students and educators, have been identified, which hinder the full utilization of these skills. Finally, recommendations for improving information literacy education and updating the skills of educators and students are provided, which can help strengthen these skills and enhance educational and research processes.

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Main Subjects

References

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  • Receive Date: 28 December 2025
  • Revise Date: 13 March 2026
  • Accept Date: 24 March 2026
  • Publish Date: 12 May 2026

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