Portuguese adaptation and validation of the Student Perceptions of Information Literacy Skills Scale - PILS

Abstract

The article presents the process of translation, adaptation, and validation of the Student Perceptions of Information Literacy Skills (PILS) scale into European Portuguese, within the framework of the Be Careful Project. The scale aims to assess higher education students’ perceptions, self-assessment, and confidence regarding their information literacy skills, which are considered essential for effectively searching, evaluating, and using information, particularly in combating disinformation.

Methodologically, the translated version of the scale was back-translated into English by two independent researchers and applied to a sample of first-year and graduating higher education students. The preliminary results indicate that the PILS scale is suitable for measuring students’ subjective perceptions of their information literacy skills, as it does not directly assess technical performance but rather aspects related to confidence and motivation for learning. The study is ongoing and highlights the usefulness of the scale as a support instrument for information literacy education.