Mcom 320: Developing Information Literacy Skills

Overview

Disastrous business decisions often begin with seemingly reasonable assumptions. Effective business communication contains credible evidence. Before making decisions, you need facts, not gut feelings. Regardless of purpose, use credible information to support your assertions. Without credible support, your assertions are merely conjecture.

Developing information literacy skills is a game-changer in the digital age of information overload. Finding, evaluating, and using credible information can be your competitive advantage. Improve your information literacy skills as you conduct market research, identify emerging trends, and make data-driven decisions.

Employers increasingly value employees who can distinguish between reliable and misleading sources, ensuring accurate insights and avoiding costly mistakes, and as you assume leadership roles, your information literacy skills will enhance your credibility and influence over others as you become a trusted expert, entrepreneurial innovator, and influential leader.

Moreover, to become a Christlike leader and communicator, learn to discern between truth and error; always seek for and stay on the side of the truth.

You might wonder, however, how to know whether you have truth or whether you are being deceived?

In a revelation given through Joseph Smith to the Church, the Lord commanded the Church members to ask God for this gift:

"But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils.Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given..." (D&C 46:8)In a revelation given to Oliver Cowdery through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord admonishes Oliver for attempting to translate. The Lord counseled,

"Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me." (D&C 46:8, 23)In D&C 88, the Lord's message of peace to us, he reminds us that

"...if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things." (D&C 88:67)In his BYU devotional speech entitled "What is Truth," Elder Uchtdorf said,

"...never in the history of the world have we had easier access to more information—some of it true, some of it false, and much of it partially true. Consequently, never in the history of the world has it been more important to learn how to correctly discern between truth and error."

Uchtdorf continued, "I believe that our Father in Heaven is pleased with His children when they use their talents and mental faculties to earnestly discover truth. Over the centuries many wise men and women—through logic, reason, scientific inquiry, and, yes, through inspiration—have discovered truth. These discoveries have enriched mankind, improved our lives, and inspired joy, wonder, and awe." Discern between truth and error as you stay on the covenant path, stay close to the Holy Ghost, and develop your research talents.

This lesson teaches strategies to evaluate sources, avoid confirmation bias, avoid jumping to conclusions, and ensure information accuracy. Respect your audiences enough to use credible information; no one will ever question your integrity if you do.

Read the following page and textbook chapter

Watch the following information literacy and avoiding bias videos