Developing the DigIQ: A measure of digital competence

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Educational Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Digital competence is crucial for navigating the modern world.
• Existing measures of digital competence lack lifespan applicability and robustness.
• A validated, comprehensive assessment tool is needed to address this gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Digital Intelligence Quotient (DigIQ) measure.
• To create a psychometrically sound indicator of digital competence suitable for all ages.
• To assess a wide range of digital skills and knowledge domains.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from over 2500 participants across three distinct studies.
• Developed the DigIQ measure encompassing nine critical digital skill domains.
• Included assessment of related digital knowledge alongside skill domains.

Main Results:

• The DigIQ demonstrates psychometric validity for assessing digital competence across the lifespan.
• The measure covers nine diverse skill domains: strategic and critical information skills, netiquette, content creation, safety, health and wellbeing, sustainable digital skills, problem-solving, and AI skills.
• Results confirm the complexity of digital competence and provide a foundational assessment tool.

Conclusions:

• The DigIQ is a significant advancement in digital competence assessment, offering broad applicability.
• Future research should explore its suitability for younger users and those with limited literacy.
• The open-access nature of DigIQ facilitates widespread adoption for evidence-based decision-making and digital literacy promotion.