IALS 1996

Key findings of IALS 1996

Key Facts : IALS 1996
When:	1996
Who:	4,223 adults 16-65 years old.
What:	Prose literacy, document numeracy and quantitative literacy.
Where:	24 countries or regions participated in IALS between 1994 and 1998.

Adult Literacy in New Zealand: Results from the International Adult Literacy Survey provides a summary of New Zealand results of IALS 1996.

New Zealand had a similar distribution of literacy skills within its adult population as Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. Approximately one in five adult New Zealanders was operating at a highly effective level of literacy. Students and employed people had higher levels of literacy than the unemployed and the retired. The top 20% of income earners had the highest levels of literacy. Increased retention at senior secondary school was associated with improving literacy levels.

Publications

  Adult Literacy in New Zealand: Results from the International Adult Survey
    Adult Literacy in New Zealand: Results from the International Adult Literacy Survey
  This report provides a summary of New Zealand results of IALS 1996. 

   Literacy in the Information Age: Final Report of the International Adult Literacy Survey
   Literacy in the Information Age: Final report of the International Adult Literacy Survey [PDF 915KB]
    This is the international comparative report, published jointly by the OECD and Statistics Canada in
    2000.

 




   The International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS): Understanding What Was Measured
   The International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS): Understanding What Was Measured [PDF 2.3MB]
   Understanding What Was Measured offers a framework that has been used for both developing the
   tasks used to measure literacy and for understanding the meaning of what has been reported with
   respect to the comparative literacy proficiencies of adults in participating countries.
   This document also includes some sample tasks.

   Analysis of New Zealand Data from the International Adult Literacy Survey
   Analysis of New Zealand Data from the International Adult Literacy Survey
   The Ministry of Education commissioned Massey University researchers to conduct further analysis of
   the 1996 International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) data to determine whether certain demographic
   factors predict or are associated with low levels of literacy. This research provides a greater
   understanding of New Zealanders affected by literacy problems.  The summary report is also available
   in PDF format: Reading between the Lines [PDF 1.2MB]

 

International Data

    Statistics Canada
    A database is available on the Statistics Canada website
    where you can produce your own tables from IALS.