The ability to locate, evaluate and effectively use information is an important trait known as

The ability to locate, evaluate and effectively use information is called information literacy.

It equips a person to find relevant sources, judge their quality and apply them for a purpose.

Critical thinking is the broader reasoning skill of analysis and judgment, wider than handling information.

Hearing is only the physical reception of sound and has nothing to do with using information.

Selective attention is focusing on some stimuli while filtering others, a narrower perceptual process.

Information literacy is formally defined by the American Library Association as recognizing, locating, evaluating and using information.