Libraries as bastions of truth? How technical college students ascertain truthfulness in information

This study examined how a group of first year technical college students ascertained the truthfulness of information retrieved from their college library’s catalogue. This study revealed a strong, passive dependence by first year students on those individuals and institutions perceived to be in positions of authority, who concurrently conferred not just truth, but beliefs, and understandings; while other students, displaying interface fuzziness, confused library information sources with those found on the internet. It is recommended that those instructing technical college students encourage greater levels of reflection and cognitive engagement with information selected for use by students