Exploring researchers' artificial intelligence (AI) literacy: The mediating role of digital literacy and data literacy between 21st century skills and AI literacy

Seker O., Kwon K., Kocak Ö.

INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT, 2025 (SSCI) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1177/02666669251336368
  • Dergi Adı: INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, FRANCIS, Applied Science & Technology Source, CAB Abstracts, Computer & Applied Sciences, Index Islamicus, Information Science and Technology Abstracts, INSPEC, Library and Information Science Abstracts, Library Literature and Information Science, Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA), Veterinary Science Database
  • Atatürk Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

Many researchers have started using artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the different parts of their scientific research processes. A high level of AI literacy is required to utilize AI tools effectively. AI literacy also includes many cognitive and technical skills. These pre-requisite skills can impact researchers' AI usage competencies. In this context, the current study aimed to investigate the determinants of researchers' AI literacy from the demographic variables and twenty-first century skills. For this purpose, a model was created with 24 hypotheses and tested using data collected by 708 researchers from various universities in T & uuml;rkiye. Non-experts AI literacy, digital literacy, data literacy, and computational thinking scales, and demographic information form were used as data collection tools. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to reveal the relationship among the variables. The results revealed that digital literacy and data literacy skills are the strongest predictors of AI literacy. In addition, digital literacy and data literacy have mediating roles between the some 21st skills and AI literacy. There are also some demographic variables such as English language level and frequency of AI use, which are the significant predictors of AI literacy.