Media and Information Literacy and Critical Thinking: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Media and information literacy seems to be necessary in the formation of citizens capable of using information critically. The growing phenomena of misinformation, as well as the effects of the media and especially social media on certain groups, impels us to analyze how this type of education helps to create critical thinking. Method: This study offers a systematic review of the published scientific literature on the intersection of critical thinking and media and information literacy. Results: We analyzed the databases of the Core Collection of the Web of Science and Scopus. A sample of 65 articles was analyzed after a screening based on pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis considered both the main bibliometric characteristics of the scientific production and the emerging themes. Discussion: The results showed that most of the scientific production has an empirical nature following three thematic patterns: the scope of application; instruments and assessment; and limits and difficulties. Conclusion: In conclusion, the review suggests that including media and information literacy in education improves critical ability.