(Open) Data literacy: Which relationships with open data adoption? A systematic review of the literature

Data literacy is considered a key dimension supporting citizens’ enhancement of open data. Nevertheless, more precise definitions of its role and the consideration of nuances between the types of knowledge and abilities that influence a relevant use of open data are needed. Therefore, we carried out a systematic review of the literature, spotting: a) the role of data literacy among several barriers to use; and b) activities around open data that promote informal learning by supporting the development of critical data literacy as a proxy of the citizens' further engagement with open data. We screened and selected 66 articles, applying a keyword mapping technique, followed by coding and quantitative analysis of the articles. Our findings highlight that, on the one hand, limited data literacy interferes with the use of open data. On the other hand, open data activities appear to generate relevant opportunities for cultivating citizens' technical data literacy, allowing them to understand and interact with data-driven decision-making processes. Nevertheless, there is little attention on critical data literacy as a key driver for the strategic and transformative use of open government data. Finally, this study could set the basis to support lifelong learning interventions aimed at cultivating open data literacy.