Journal article
Developing and Validating a 15-Item True/False Measure of News Literacy Knowledge
Communication research
09/28/2024
DOI: 10.1177/00936502241284406
Abstract
Given growing interest in the potential importance of news literacy around the world, a theoretically grounded and empirically validated measure of news literacy is essential. Building on existing theory, we developed and validated a 15-item true/false measure of news literacy knowledge. This measure comprehensively operationalizes the five C’s of news literacy—context, creation, content, circulation, and consumption—in a concise, adaptable, knowledge-based format. Using item response theory and differential item functioning analysis, we followed a three-survey process with representative U.S. samples, developing and assessing 80 true/false items in Study 1 ( N = 1,502) to reduce to 43 items in Study 2 ( N = 1,273). The final reduced set of 15 items was evaluated and validated in Study 3 ( N = 681) along with related measures of civics and current events knowledge, which were positively predicted by the news literacy knowledge measure. While this measure is designed and tested in the U.S. context, our process of operationalizing these complicated concepts and the novel true/false format facilitates its applicability to those interested in studying news literacy around the globe.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Developing and Validating a 15-Item True/False Measure of News Literacy Knowledge
- Creators
- Adam Maksl - Indiana University SoutheastPeter J. Boedeker - Baylor College of MedicineEmily K. Vraga - University of MinnesotaStephanie Craft - University of Illinois SystemMelissa Tully - University of IowaSeth Ashley - Boise State University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Communication research
- DOI
- 10.1177/00936502241284406
- ISSN
- 0093-6502
- eISSN
- 1552-3810
- Publisher
- SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
- Grant note
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The authors received grant support from the Mass Communication and Society Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication to conduct this research.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 09/28/2024
- Academic Unit
- Center for Social Science Innovation; Injury Prevention Research Center; School of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Record Identifier
- 9984721146402771
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