Digital Literacy Levels of Primary School Students: A Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the digital literacy levels of primary school students in terms of various variables. In this study, a mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative and quantitative research designs. In the quantitative part of the study, a survey model was employed, and 1390 students were reached using the simple random sampling method. In the qualitative part of the study, a case study design was used; data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 25 students who participated in the quantitative data collection process. According to the quantitative results of the study, it was determined that the students had a medium level of digital literacy, there was no difference in the digital literacy of the students according to gender, and the digital literacy of the students who had internet connection at home and spent much time on the Internet was high. According to the study's qualitative results, it was revealed that the students' primary purpose for using digital tools was mainly for gaming, their technical knowledge was insufficient, and they had a basic understanding of privacy and security issues.