|
Thomas G.
Sticht
Applied
Behavioral
and Cognitive
Sciences, Inc.
C. Richard
Hofstetter
San Diego State
University
Carolyn
H.
Hofstetter
University of California,
Los Angeles
|
|
Several
industrialized nations have conducted expensive door-to-door surveys
of adult literacy. Following a critique of the role of knowledge in
literacy, the research presented here examined the construct and action
validity of the use of simple checklists to assess the declarative
knowledge component of adult’s literacy by telephone. Significant
relationships were found among knowledge when assessed either by listening
(telephone) or by reading (mailed questionnaire) modality. The telephone
data showed similar relationships to demographic variables that have
been found in the 1993 National Adult Literacy Survey and other literacy
surveys during the last half-century. It was concluded that the telephone
method may provide a valid, cost-effective alternative to door-to-door
assessments of literacy. |