Exploring factors influencing digital literacy among higher vocational students based on quantitative evidence

Abstract In the era of digital economy, enhancing the digital literacy (DL) of higher vocational students (HVSs) is crucial for cultivating skilled talents in digital industries and promoting the high-quality development of vocational education. Previous research on DL mainly focused on higher educa...

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Main Authors: Shun Xu, Ling Wang, Sha Zhu, Yangwei Dai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04078-1
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author Shun Xu
Ling Wang
Sha Zhu
Yangwei Dai
author_facet Shun Xu
Ling Wang
Sha Zhu
Yangwei Dai
author_sort Shun Xu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In the era of digital economy, enhancing the digital literacy (DL) of higher vocational students (HVSs) is crucial for cultivating skilled talents in digital industries and promoting the high-quality development of vocational education. Previous research on DL mainly focused on higher education, teacher education, the field of library and information etc., but rarely investigated HVSs in detail, and constitutes a research gap that requires the attention of the vocational education community. To explore the current DL level of HVSs and to establish potential factors that will lead to its improvement, this study conducted a survey-based quantitative approach with 348 participants from a vocational college in H province. Pearson correlation analysis and regression analysis were used to systematically investigate the level of DL among HVSs and its influencing factors. Results show that the overall DL of HVSs is moderately high and the five factors of computer self-efficacy (CSE), Internet attitudes, social media competence (SMC), school organizational support, and teachers’ DL conveyance all had a positive predictive effect on HVSs’ DL. Among these factors, teachers’ DL education was found to be the strongest predictor. These results emphasize the importance of DL education for HVSs and provide a practical direction for improving HVSs’ DL.
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spelling doaj-art-dfbab0cb58764ce7b7102e461e8188dc2025-08-20T02:00:01ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-04078-1Exploring factors influencing digital literacy among higher vocational students based on quantitative evidenceShun Xu0Ling Wang1Sha Zhu2Yangwei Dai3Normal School of Vocational and Technical Education, Hubei University of TechnologyNormal School of Vocational and Technical Education, Hubei University of TechnologyFaculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal UniversityNormal School of Vocational and Technical Education, Hubei University of TechnologyAbstract In the era of digital economy, enhancing the digital literacy (DL) of higher vocational students (HVSs) is crucial for cultivating skilled talents in digital industries and promoting the high-quality development of vocational education. Previous research on DL mainly focused on higher education, teacher education, the field of library and information etc., but rarely investigated HVSs in detail, and constitutes a research gap that requires the attention of the vocational education community. To explore the current DL level of HVSs and to establish potential factors that will lead to its improvement, this study conducted a survey-based quantitative approach with 348 participants from a vocational college in H province. Pearson correlation analysis and regression analysis were used to systematically investigate the level of DL among HVSs and its influencing factors. Results show that the overall DL of HVSs is moderately high and the five factors of computer self-efficacy (CSE), Internet attitudes, social media competence (SMC), school organizational support, and teachers’ DL conveyance all had a positive predictive effect on HVSs’ DL. Among these factors, teachers’ DL education was found to be the strongest predictor. These results emphasize the importance of DL education for HVSs and provide a practical direction for improving HVSs’ DL.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04078-1
spellingShingle Shun Xu
Ling Wang
Sha Zhu
Yangwei Dai
Exploring factors influencing digital literacy among higher vocational students based on quantitative evidence
Scientific Reports
title Exploring factors influencing digital literacy among higher vocational students based on quantitative evidence
title_full Exploring factors influencing digital literacy among higher vocational students based on quantitative evidence
title_fullStr Exploring factors influencing digital literacy among higher vocational students based on quantitative evidence
title_full_unstemmed Exploring factors influencing digital literacy among higher vocational students based on quantitative evidence
title_short Exploring factors influencing digital literacy among higher vocational students based on quantitative evidence
title_sort exploring factors influencing digital literacy among higher vocational students based on quantitative evidence
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04078-1
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AT yangweidai exploringfactorsinfluencingdigitalliteracyamonghighervocationalstudentsbasedonquantitativeevidence