Using Positionality to Address Student Bias in Information Seeking

ABSTRACT While participating in the information search process, students are instructed to choose credible sources for their research. They often interpret this imperative as simply avoiding bias in the sources they choose. Unfortunately, students misunderstand bias and fail to recognize its significance in the scholarly conversation. One way librarians can help with this misunderstanding is by engaging with theoretical concepts such as positionality theory. Positionality theory offers librarians a way to examine bias's function in the research process in order to teach students about its complexity. While bias and positionality are concepts that have been explored in information literacy research, most research does not address them as related topics. This poster explores notions of bias, positionality theory, and strategies to employ that will help librarians use this theory to address student misunderstandings around questions of bias and credibility. This new understanding helps students determine their own positionality when approaching information searching.