Information and Technology Literacy Among Female and Male Pre-Service Teachers: The Mediating Role of Media Literacy

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of media literacy in the relationship between information literacy and technology literacy and to investigate gender-based differences in this mediating effect. A cross-sectional correlational research design was employed, involving 390 prospective teachers (77.4% female, 22.6% male). The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results indicated a significant correlation between information literacy, technology literacy, and media literacy, as well as a positive mediating role of media literacy between information literacy and technology literacy. However, it was revealed that the mediating role of media literacy in the relationship between information and technology literacy was similar in female and male groups. The results indicated that information-literate individuals tended to assess media content with a more conscious and critical perspective, and the skills they acquired in this process are related to their ability to use technology. The study’s findings were discussed and interpreted in detail in light of the relevant literature.