The relationship between information literacy and online learning engagement: a moderated mediating model

Purpose: This study aims to examine how college students' information literacy affects their online learning engagement and what factors contribute to this relationship.

Method: The research adopted the method of cluster sampling to deliver a questionnaire survey to a sample of 1421 students' representative of four colleges. Information Literacy Scale, Online Learning Engagement Scale, Information Literacy Self-Efficacy Scale, and Psychological Resilience Scale were utilized in this study. SPSS 26.0 and the PROCESS plugin were used for correlation analysis, mediation effect and moderating effect testing. This study was based on the theories of learning engagement and self-determination and centred on building a moderated mediating model with online learning college students as its primary focus.

Result: (1) Among college students, there was a positive association between information literacy and online learning engagement; (2) Information literacy self-efficacy was demonstrated to mediate the relationship between information literacy and online learning engagement; (3) The impact of information literacy self-efficacy on online learning engagement and the influence of information literacy on online learning engagement were both moderated by psychological resilience.

Conclusion: Colleges have the potential to enhance the online learning engagement of college students by improving their information literacy abilities, hence increasing their involvement in online learning projects. Implementing strategies including increasing the availability of online courses and improving teacher support in online learning can improve college students' information literacy self-efficacy and psychological resilience. This, in turn, can increase their participation in online learning activities.