Adult numeracy : review of research and related literature

Abstract

This report provides a review of current knowledge of adult numeracy, identifies gaps in this knowledge, discusses the implications for practice and makes recommendations for further research. The review covers English-language sources containing research from around the world related to adult numeracy/mathematics teaching and learning and teacher education, mainly at the levels of mathematics encompassed by the Adult Numeracy Core Curriculum (i.e. from Entry Level 1 through to Level 2). The report begins with an overview of the scope of the review and then presents reviews of: (1) conceptual issues in adult numeracy; (2) mathematics education as a research domain; (3) epistemologies of mathematics and mathematics education; (4) other relevant reviews of research; and (5) surveys of adult numeracy skills in the UK and international contexts. The following section focuses on numeracy in context and transfer between contexts, and research on mathematics in the workplace and everyday life, including financial literacy. The review then examines issues in learning and teaching adult numeracy, policy and provision of adult numeracy in England, curriculum development and approaches to teaching and learning. The following section considers factors affecting learning. The final section investigates the range and balance of research methods used in the studies and methodological issues in research on adult numeracy more broadly. It synthesises the main points from the review in response to the questions of what is known and what still needs to known about adult numeracy and what should be done about it.