Communications in Information Literacy - Volume 13 - Issue 2 - Article 2

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by kopisore

This paper explains how the social news platform Reddit can function as a practical example of the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy threshold concept “Authority is Constructed and Contextual.” It argues that the constructed, context-dependent nature of authority is embedded in Reddit’s structure and can help students connect personal information experiences with academic authority evaluation. The discussion frames this connection through cognitive authority and related scholarly publishing contexts.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time45 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Framework and threshold concepts

“Authority is Constructed and Contextual” frame

Cognitive authority and teaching implications

Questions about listening and expertise

Reddit as analogy for authority in context

Communications in Information Literacy | Volume 13 Issue 2 | Article 2 | | --- | --- | | 2019
Reddit as an Analogy for Scholarly Publishing and the Constructed, Contextual Nature of Authority
Anna M. White
Grand Valley State University, [whitean2@gvsu.edu](whitean2@gvsu.edu)
Follow this and additional works at: [https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/comminfolit](https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/comminfolit)
Part of the Information Literacy Commons
Let us know how access to this document benefits you. | | Recommended Citation White, A. M. (2019) . Reddit as an Analogy for Scholarly Publishing and the Constructed, Contextual Nature of Authority. Communications in Information Literacy, 13 (2), 147-163 . [https://doi.org/10.15760/](https://doi.org/10.15760/)[ ](https://doi.org/10.15760/)[comminfolit.2019.13.2.2](comminfolit.2019.13.2.2) This Research Article is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Communications in Information Literacy by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. For more information, please contact [pdxscholar@pdx.edu](pdxscholar@pdx.edu). Reddit as an Analogy for Scholarly Publishing and the Constructed, Contextual Nature of Authority Anna M. White, Grand Valley State University Abstract This paper provides an overview of how the social news site Reddit can be used as an example of the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education threshold concept “Authority is Constructed and Contextual.” It posits that the construction and context of authority in the sense of Wilson’s concept of cognitive authority is in the inherent structure of Reddit and that students can benefit from an example that easily links their personal and academic lives—a connection not always made when discussing authority in peer-reviewed publications or databases. Keywords: information literacy, Reddit, authority, threshold concepts, cognitive authority White, A. M. (2019). Reddit as an Analogy for Scholarly Publishing and the Constructed, Contextual Nature of Authority. Communications in Information Literacy, 13(2), 147-163. Reddit as an Analogy for Scholarly Publishing and the Constructed, Contextual Nature of Authority The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) adopted the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education “out of a belief that information literacy . . . will reach its full potential only through a richer, more complex set of core ideas” (ACRL, 2015, p.7) . The Framework introduces six frames as threshold concepts, a term that refers to “those ideas in any discipline that are passageways or portals to enlarged understanding or ways of thinking and practicing within that discipline” (p.7). This paper highlights a functional example of the frame “Authority is Constructed and Contextual” as demonstrated through the social news site Reddit. Reddit can serve as an analogy for scholarly publishing and displays the contextual, constructed nature of authority. Making this process visible to students allows them to transfer a threshold concept and information literacy skills from their personal lives to their academic lives. Reddit is an excellent venue for students to see information literacy threshold concepts about authority being constructed and contextual in action as they, themselves, can engage in the construction in ways they rarely do when authority is discussed strictly within the confines of the scholarly publishing system. The Frame: “Authority is Constructed and Contextual” The Framework’s text for “Authority is Constructed and Contextual” reads, in part: Information resources reflect their creators’ expertise and credibility, and are evaluated based on the information need and the context in which the information will be used. Authority is constructed in that various communities may recognize different types of authority. It is contextual in that the information need may help to determine the

FAQs

How does the paper use Reddit to explain information literacy authority concepts?

It treats Reddit as an analogy showing how authority is constructed and shaped by context, making the process easier for students to observe. This helps students link everyday and academic experiences.

What does “Authority is Constructed and Contextual” mean in the ACRL Framework?

It emphasizes that different communities recognize different types of authority and that the appropriate authority level depends on the information need and context of use.

What is cognitive authority, and how is it distinguished from administrative authority?

Cognitive authority refers to influence over one’s thoughts recognized as proper, grounded in expertise, social relationships, and knowledge domains. Administrative authority is based on power granted by position.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by kopisore