Untangling the influence of data literacy and knowledge sharing willingness on academic achievement of college students in China: a moderated mediation model

With the application and promotion of digital technology in higher education, college students are immersed in the virtual learning environment, and the data literacy has become an important factor affecting college students’ academic performance. According to DIKW Pyramid Model, which clarifies the transformation process of data into knowledge and wisdom, this study proposed a theoretical model to describe the relationship among data literacy, knowledge sharing willingness, self-efficacy and academic performance. 1816 college students were investigated using cluster random sampling. The statistical results suggested that data literacy of college students had a significant positive effect on their knowledge sharing willingness and academic performance. Knowledge sharing willingness mediated the relationship between data literacy and academic performance. Additionally, self-efficacy moderated the back radius of the structural equation model, which means that compared to college students with low self-efficacy, those with high self-efficacy demonstrated a stronger promoting effect of knowledge sharing willingness on academic performance. The conclusion enriched DIKW Pyramid Model, and provided inspirations for universities to cultivate data literacy of college students.