Leveraging the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies to Examine the Literacy and Reading Component Skills of Low-Skilled U.S. Adults

• In Event: Diverse Findings on Adults' Skills: Further Evidence From the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies

Abstract

This proposed roundtable presents ongoing results from an Institute of Education Sciences (IES) project that uses PIAAC data to examine the literacy and reading component skills of low-skilled United States adults. The project has three aims: a. to explore the psychometric properties of the literacy and reading component scales for low-skilled adults; b. to identify risk factors of low literacy skills; and c. to examine predictors of literacy and numeracy performance. We will present results from Aim 1, in which we will discuss the reliability and dimensionality of three reading component scales and literacy scales (paper-based and computer-adaptive). In addition, we will discuss ongoing work from the other aims. Findings have implications for validating large-scale assessments specific to low-skilled populations.

Authors

• Elizabeth Tighe, Georgia State University

• Yaacov Petscher, The Florida Center for Reading Research

• John P. Sabatini, The University of Memphis