The relationship between epistemological beliefs and information literacy levels of social studies teacher candidates

This study, which aims to determine the epistemological beliefs and information literacy levels of social studies teacher candidates in terms of gender and class variables, was carried out in a relational survey model. In the 2018-2019 academic year, 431 students studying in the Social Studies Teaching Department of Bursa Uludağ University, Marmara University, Yıldız Technical University and Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University participated in the study. The "Epistemological Beliefs Scale" developed by Schommer (1990), adapted into Turkish by Deryakulu and Büyüköztürk (2002) and validity and reliability analyzes were made by Aydın, Selçuk, Çakmak and İlğan, (2017), and "Information Literacy Scale" deveoped and validity and reliability analyzes were made by Adıgüzel (2011) and "Personal Information Form" were used. The obtained data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Levene F-test, Scheffe Test and Pearson correlation analysis. According to the findings obtained from the study, it was determined that the epistemological beliefs and information literacy skills of social studies teacher candidates were at a high level. As a result of the research, it was determined that there was a low and medium relationship between the epistemological beliefs of social studies teacher candidates and their information literacy levels in the dimensions of "belief that learning depends on effort" and "belief that learning depends on ability", and a low level in "belief that there is only one truth".