The starting point of Ståhl’s dissertation coincided with the contemporary – both academic and public – debate around so-called digital natives. The debate was characterized by a generalizing assumption that all members of the millennial generation were both net savvy and frequent users of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies). Questions arose: if internet reliance can be identified, how is it then associated to epistemic beliefs and ICT practices? Is internet reliance pronounced among the assumed digital natives?
Ståhl’s article-based dissertation builds upon three original studies, all based on the same material. Data were collected using two surveys and a performance-based ICT skills test, and data were provided by two cohorts of first-year university students.
The first two studies served to provide the concepts necessary for the third study, dealing with the original question about the association between internet reliance, ICT practices and views of knowledge and knowing (epistemic beliefs). The central finding was the positive correlation between internet reliance and three knowledge-related epistemic beliefs dimensions.
“This finding suggests that a higher level of internet reliance may go hand in hand with epistemic beliefs that consider knowledge as certain, absolute, and unchanging (certainty of knowledge), consisting of unambiguous, isolated bits (structure of knowledge), and basically being handed down by authority (omniscient authority),” says Ståhl.
Reflecting upon the association between internet reliance and the dimension of omniscient authority, we can see the concept of algorithmic authority emerging. The use of algorithmically generated content – provided for instance by search engines – is continuously increasing. According to Ståhl, the trust in algorithmic authorities highlights the importance of information literacy.
“In the contemporary context, information is ubiquitous and a mix of verified and unverified information, also disinformation. This calls for further research about the extent to which users can identify the difference between human testimonies versus algorithmically generated content. Further, depending on the information source, what strategies will users apply to justify the information to be part of their personal knowledge? Will they apply justification by authority, multiple sources, or personal reasoning?” he ponders.
According to Ståhl, justifying one’s knowing by authority may, for instance, lead astray if one doesn’t understand that also an authority can be deceitful.
Public defence on Friday 26 April 2024
The doctoral dissertation of M.Ed. Tore Ståhl in the field of Education titled Exploring connections between epistemic beliefs, internet reliance and ICT practices – a study among first-year university students will be publicly examined at the Faculty of Education and Culture at Tampere University at 12:00 on Friday 26 April 2024 in auditorium B1096 of the Pinni B building (address: Kanslerinrinne 1, Tampere).
The Opponent will be Professor Christian Brandmo, University of Oslo, Norway. The Custos will be Associate Professor Vesa Korhonen, Faculty of Education and Culture, Tampere University.