Information literacy in research training in virtual postgraduate programs

Information literacy has become an important component of research training at the postgraduate level, as is the case in online master’s programs in Colombia. Currently, this education is being affected by the saturation of digital platforms and tools used excessively and without control by students, impacting the development of their research work and the resulting academic output. The problem is exacerbated when master’s students rely solely on digital resources for writing their texts, with emerging technologies like generative artificial intelligence becoming their primary assistant, thus neglecting their independent and scientifically rigorous research. This is reflected in their ability to manage information, encountering difficulties in search strategies, selecting academic sources, and validating consulted data. This study aims to explore the role of information literacy in the use of digital resources within postgraduate research processes. The study employed a quantitative, descriptive approach, supported by online questionnaires administered to 100 faculty members of the research component of the online master’s programs at the Minuto de Dios University Corporation (UNIMINUTO). This allowed for the identification of different student practices regarding information management in digital media. The results show frequent use of tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) for information retrieval, but also limitations in the proper handling of content, critical analysis, and the identification of validity criteria for selecting theoretical data. Consequences associated with the unregulated use of artificial intelligence were also identified, such as a lack of information filters, a lack of awareness of standards for written work, and the delegation of academic processes to algorithmic systems. The conclusions indicate that access to information does not guarantee research quality; therefore, it is necessary to strengthen information literacy skills focused on analytical and critical thinking, intellectual autonomy, and the ethical use of information in online master’s programs.