Development of a Strategy to Promote Sustainable Information Literacy Among the Elderly in Xi'an City

Abstract

This study examined sustainable development strategies to enhance the information literacy of older adults in Xi’an. This paper aimed to (1) study the current situation of sustainable information literacy of older people in Xi’an; (2) provide strategies for improving sustainable information literacy of older people in Xi’an; and (3) evaluate the adaptability and feasibility of these strategies. The sample group consisted of 384 older people from five communities in Xi’an, selected using systematic and simple random sampling methods. Data were collected through questionnaires, structured interviews with ten experts, and evaluations by eight high-level administrators. The research instruments included a questionnaire to gather quantitative data on information literacy of older people, structured interviews to gather qualitative insights from experts, and evaluation forms to assess the feasibility of the proposed strategies. The findings revealed that while the overall level of sustainable information literacy of older people in Xi’an was high, there was significant variation across different aspects. Based on the SWOT-PEST matrix model, this paper systematically analyzes the external macro-environmental opportunities and threats to information literacy among older people in Xi'an from four aspects: politics, economy, society, and technology. It also examines the internal micro advantages and disadvantages and proposes countermeasures and suggestions accordingly. The study developed 42 strategies for improving information literacy, including nine for information awareness, 10 for information knowledge, 9 for information competence, and 14 for information ethics. The adaptability and feasibility of strategies for improving the sustainable development of information literacy of older people in Xi’an in four aspects were at the highest level, with the values between 4.50 and 5.00 (x.x̄=4.68 and ==4.65), which means the strategies for improving the sustainable development of information literacy of older people in Xi’an are adaptable and feasible.