Final answer:
Information literacy is crucial for identifying the most appropriate tool for obtaining the needed information, enhancing the ability to evaluate sources and make informed conclusions.
Step-by-step explanation:
True: Information literacy indeed helps us identify the most suited tool to elicit the kind of information we need. By using information literacy skills, individuals can discern between different types of information sources and select the one that is most appropriate for their research needs. For instance, when a student must engage with philosophical texts, they can exercise information literacy by using the SIFT Method, which stands for Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, and Trace the claims to the original context. This method, proposed by information literacy scholar Michael Caulfield, helps students become adept at fact-checking and sorting through information online, where misinformation can often be disguised as credible knowledge.
Moreover, information literacy teaches us to critically evaluate sources of information. Questions such as 'Is the author identified?', 'What are the author's biases?', and 'Is the content peer-reviewed or opinion-based?' are essential in appraising the credibility and relevance of information. Scholars in history and other disciplines must constantly evaluate the strength of sources, especially when dealing with digital formats available online.
In the case of reading philosophical texts or using data to determine voter preferences, having the ability to critically analyze the information at hand is integral. This involves context understanding, genre rules, and evaluating sources, all of which are components of being information literate.