Studying the Effect of Digital Natives' ICT-related Attributes on Their Information Literacy Level: the Case Study of Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin

Some researchers argue that digital natives have natural abilities overlapping information literacy competencies. This study aimed to evaluate the possible effect of digital natives' attributes (including ICT ownership, ICT experiences, Internet selef-confidence, and ICT rich ciurses-on their information literacy levels.

The study population included all 2610 graduate students in Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran. Of them, 336 ones were selected as the sample and 255 ones completely participated in the study by completing a 75-itemed scale related to study variables. The hypotheses were tested by applying structural equation model and path analysis in SPSS 22.0 and SmartPLS 3.00.

ICT ownership /application has not any significant effect on information literacy, neither directly, nore through Internet self-confidence, but through ICT experiences. ICT-rich courses have not any significant effect on information literacy, neither through ICT experiences, nor through Internet self-confidence, but it directly has a significant effect. ICT experiences significantly influences information literacy and Internet self-confidence has direct significant effect on information literacy.

Despite confirming some aspects of variable relations, the results indicate that digital natives' attributes cannot be conceived as promotors of their information literacy levels. It is needed that information literacy is integrated with the curriculum by specialists for training the digital natives.