Information literacy and information behaviour of disadvantaged people in the COVID-19 pandemic. Case study of beneficiaries of the charitable foundation

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to explore information literacy and information behaviour in the group of the charitable foundation beneficiaries, their attitudes, choices, and behaviour regarding particularly COVID-19 information. Methods: Two series of quantitative CAPI studies were carried out. The first consisted of basic questions about access and preferences related to information sources. The other was explicitly related to COVID-19 pandemic information. Basic statistical descriptive measures were used in the analysis. Results: Poverty and the concept of small worlds seem to be a specific living context of people from vulnerable groups. Information flow is based mainly on personal sources. Their searches for pandemic information did not differ significantly from everyday behaviours. The respondents felt fatigued with information about the pandemic dominating the media and informal discussions. Conclusions: In relation to previous studies, we see similar behaviours and competencies levels indicating information poverty, although differences in source preferences are also observed. Volunteers appear to have a  limited informative role concerning the COVID-19 pandemic compared to other studies of people in crisis. Originality: The status of information literacy of the studied population indicates new tasks for caregivers in terms of provision of information and development of information skills, in particular in health or life-threatening circumstances.