Relationship between Self-directed Learning and Self-efficacy of Students with the mediator role of information literacy

The study aimed at investigating the relationship between self-directed learning and self-efficacy of PhD students with a focus on the mediating role of information literacy in Islamic Azad University of Sari. This applied research adopted a descriptive-correlational approach as its methodology. The statistical population of this study consisted of 1,000 students of all PhD students. The Sample size was determined by Krejcie and Morgan tables and 278 people were considered as the study sample being chosen through random sampling. The data collection tools were the Self-efficacy Scale by Sherer and Maddux (1982) and Fisher's Self-directed Learning Questionnaire (2001) and a Researcher- made Questionnaire on Information Literacy. The validities of the given tools were evaluated and confirmed by experts from the Department of Educational Sciences. The reliabilities of the questionnaires were estimated through Cronbach's alpha coefficient in a group of 30 subjects, which were 0.79, 0.83 and 0.89 for the self-efficacy questionnaire, self-directed learning questionnaire, and information literacy questionnaire, respectively. For the statistical analysis, the Lisrel 8.5 and Spss version 18 were used. Hypotheses were analyzed through structural equation modeling. The results showed a significant positive correlation between self-directed learning and students’ information literacy. There existed a significant positive relationship between information literacy and student self-efficacy; Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between self-directed learning and students’ self-efficacy. Also, the results of the test showed that information literacy had a mediating role in the relationship between self-directed learning and students’ self-efficacy.