Research Article

The role of digital literacy, 21st century skills, and intercultural sensitivity in predicting democratic attitudes

Number: 80 October 26, 2026
TR EN

The role of digital literacy, 21st century skills, and intercultural sensitivity in predicting democratic attitudes

Abstract

This study examines the role of digital literacy, 21st century skills, and intercultural sensitivity in predicting democratic attitudes among middle school students. The research employed a quantitative relational survey design with 681 students from six middle schools. Data were collected using the Digital Literacy Scale, Democratic Attitude Scale, Intercultural Sensitivity Scale, and 21st Century Skills Scale. Analyses included descriptive statistics, independent-samples t tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression. Students’ mean scores were high for 21st century skills, intercultural sensitivity, and digital literacy and very high for democratic attitudes. Scores differed significantly by grade level for 21st century skills and democratic attitudes and by participation in intercultural activities and across the three school categories represented in the sample for all four measures. These differences were small in magnitude, and the school-category differences cannot be separated from the characteristics of the individual participating schools. All four variables were positively and significantly intercorrelated. In the regression model, 21st century skills and intercultural sensitivity were significant predictors of democratic attitudes, whereas digital literacy was not a significant independent predictor. The model accounted for approximately 41% of the variance in democratic attitudes. These findings suggest that democratic attitudes are associated with cognitive, cultural, and digital competencies considered together.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Social Studies Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

October 26, 2026

Submission Date

April 29, 2026

Acceptance Date

October 25, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 80

APA
Demir, S. S., & Küçük Avcı, Ş. (2026). The role of digital literacy, 21st century skills, and intercultural sensitivity in predicting democratic attitudes. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty, 80, 222-247. https://doi.org/10.21764/maeuefd.1940047
AMA
1.Demir SS, Küçük Avcı Ş. The role of digital literacy, 21st century skills, and intercultural sensitivity in predicting democratic attitudes. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty. 2026;(80):222-247. doi:10.21764/maeuefd.1940047
Chicago
Demir, Songül Sinem, and Şirin Küçük Avcı. 2026. “The Role of Digital Literacy, 21st Century Skills, and Intercultural Sensitivity in Predicting Democratic Attitudes”. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty, nos. 80: 222-47. https://doi.org/10.21764/maeuefd.1940047.
EndNote
Demir SS, Küçük Avcı Ş (October 1, 2026) The role of digital literacy, 21st century skills, and intercultural sensitivity in predicting democratic attitudes. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty 80 222–247.
IEEE
[1]S. S. Demir and Ş. Küçük Avcı, “The role of digital literacy, 21st century skills, and intercultural sensitivity in predicting democratic attitudes”, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty, no. 80, pp. 222–247, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.21764/maeuefd.1940047.
ISNAD
Demir, Songül Sinem - Küçük Avcı, Şirin. “The Role of Digital Literacy, 21st Century Skills, and Intercultural Sensitivity in Predicting Democratic Attitudes”. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty. 80 (October 1, 2026): 222-247. https://doi.org/10.21764/maeuefd.1940047.
JAMA
1.Demir SS, Küçük Avcı Ş. The role of digital literacy, 21st century skills, and intercultural sensitivity in predicting democratic attitudes. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty. 2026;:222–247.
MLA
Demir, Songül Sinem, and Şirin Küçük Avcı. “The Role of Digital Literacy, 21st Century Skills, and Intercultural Sensitivity in Predicting Democratic Attitudes”. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty, no. 80, Oct. 2026, pp. 222-47, doi:10.21764/maeuefd.1940047.
Vancouver
1.Songül Sinem Demir, Şirin Küçük Avcı. The role of digital literacy, 21st century skills, and intercultural sensitivity in predicting democratic attitudes. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty. 2026 Oct. 1;(80):222-47. doi:10.21764/maeuefd.1940047

Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty

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