Fact or Fiction? Critical thinking and digital resilience among young people, parents and teachers in Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania

Publications

28 Nov 2025

Labour, Migration and Social Policies

Martyna Gliniecka

Zuzanna Stańska

Hilary Kalisiak

Martyna Gliniecka

Senior Social Sciences Researcher
Dr Martyna Gliniecka is a Senior Social Sciences Researcher at the CASE - Center for Social and Economic Research. At CASE, she specialises in social research and policy projects, with a focus on qualitative research, participatory methods, and equality, diversity and inclusion. She previously led and participated in research projects in the Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University, aiming to better young people’s lives and their resilience in the domains of technology and health. She specialises in qualitative research methods, participatory methodologies, and digital research (e.g., digital ethnography). She is especially interested in online communities and their role in the growing domain of youth digital health.

Articles from this author:
- Fact or Fiction Workshop Manual for Developing Digital Resilience and Critical Thinking in Youth
- Divisions of Powers. Multi-level Governance Structures in Armenia and Azerbaijan
  This publication provides an overview of the institutional decentralisation levels in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Each chapter outlines the legal foundations of the governance structures in each country and describes how powers and responsibilities are distributed across different tiers of government.
- Doctoral Education and Training in Europe
Author’s articles
Zuzanna Stańska

Specialist in Social Sciences
Zuzanna Stańska is a Social Sciences Specialist at CASE - Center for Social and Economic Research, where she conducts qualitative research on adult and youth education, lifelong learning, migration, and social policy. Her work explores how individuals and communities adapt to social and technological change, with a particular focus on educational equity, digital transformation, and the inclusion of groups at risk of marginalisation.

Articles from this author:
- Fact or Fiction Workshop Manual for Developing Digital Resilience and Critical Thinking in Youth
- Qualifications Beyond Borders: Recognition of Ukrainian Diplomas and Qualifications in Poland
- Intergenerational Dialogue for the Future of My City
  The publication is an educator's guidebook designed to inspire and support discussions between youth and elderly participants about shaping the future of urban environments. Created as part of the "Future for All" project by CASE (Center for Social and Economic Research), this guidebook uses Warsaw as a case study but provides adaptable insights for cities globally. It is funded by the European Economic Area and Norwegian Financial Mechanism (2014–2021). The guidebook delves into critical themes, including: Demography: Addressing the implications of an ageing population, declining birth rates, and migration patterns for urban planning and social cohesion. Migration: Exploring the integration of diverse populations and fostering intercultural and intergenerational understanding. Climate Change: Highlighting urban sustainability through public initiatives like green spaces and waste reduction. Digitalisation: Emphasizing smart city development while bridging the generational digital divide. Central to its approach are intergenerational activities that foster collaboration and mutual understanding, with a focus on scenario planning, problem-solving, and community engagement. This resource equips educators with tools to promote critical thinking and inclusivity, encouraging young and older citizens alike to actively shape resilient and sustainable urban communities.
Author’s articles
Hilary Kalisiak

Junior Specialist in Social Sciences

In an era defined by constant information flow, young people engage daily with digital environments that significantly shape their perceptions and decision-making. Despite the educational potential of technology, it also introduces risks including misinformation, polarisation, and reduced attention. Developing critical thinking, intelligent disobedience, and digital resilience has therefore become essential for their well-being and democratic engagement.

Research indicates that many adolescents struggle to distinguish reliable from false content, and some see online safety as someone else’s responsibility. At the same time, youth perspectives are often missing in traditional research approaches.

The Fact or Fiction report addresses these gaps. It summarises insights from consultations with 95 young people and 30 parents and teachers across Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. It explores how adolescents use the Internet, which risks they identify, how they assess their critical thinking skills, and what support they need.

Using youth-friendly, mixed methodologies, the study led to actionable recommendations for parents, educators, digital platforms, and policymakers. It also provided the foundation for 20 workshop activities designed to strengthen young people’s critical thinking and digital resilience.

This Report has been created as part of the project called Fact or Fiction: Developing Inquiry and Critical Thinking Skills in Youth, co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.

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Fact or Fiction? Critical thinking and digital resilience among young people, parents and teachers in Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania

Martyna Gliniecka

Articles from this author:

Zuzanna Stańska

Articles from this author:

Hilary Kalisiak

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