Research
People often ask why we still have a literacy problem in Ireland. Why hasn't it improved? Research is at the heart of answering these questions and providing real solutions that will inform state policy and move Ireland forward. For 30 years NALA has been at the forefront of using research to provide evidence-based solutions to the adult literacy issue and to inform our policy proposals and advice to organisations. For further information on our research call 01 412 7917 or email research@nala.ie
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Adult Literacy Returns in Ireland The total number of learners in the Vocational Education Committee’s (VEC’s) adult literacy service (ALS) in 2010 was 54,741. The number includes learners in the adult literacy service, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Intensive Adult Basic Education (ITABE). This represents an 11% increase on participation rates from 2009 (47,266). Over the past decade the overall trend in participation has seen more than a 200% increase, rising from 17,150 in 2000 to 54,741 in 2010. |
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Reducing barriers to participation in adult literacy tuition. This briefing paper is designed to inform adult literacy practitioners, providers and policy makers about the barriers to participation in adult literacy tuition and how they might reduce them or their impact. It is the first of a series of briefing papers to summarise findings from recent NALA research. |
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At home with literacy: a study of family literacy practices. This report details the findings from a research study that sought to develop adult and children’s literacy through understanding and supporting family literacy practices in the home. |
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Literacy and men - NEW! This report details the findings from a study on men’s attitudes and experiences of literacy. The aim was to identify men of various ages, cultural, economic and social backgrounds who have literacy difficulties and who are learning informally through community engagement in groups. |
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Literacy and older people in Ireland - NEW! ‘It’s never too late to learn’ and ‘Learning through life’ are two qualitative research studies that examined both the coping strategies employed by older people with literacy difficulties and the experiences of those who do not engage with adult literacy services. |
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Integrating literacy in further education The research concluded that many of the literacy obstacles which some students encounter when they are working towards accreditation arose from the demands of the teaching methods and resources. |
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A review of literacy policy in Ireland In an environment where organisations compete for budgets, our challenge is to present compelling arguments as to why adult literacy funding should be increased and give evidence of the value of this investment. |
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Overview of the Adult Literacy System in Ireland and Current Issues in its Implementation This paper provides an overview of adult literacy in Ireland, beginning with where adult literacy is situated in the Irish education system and outlining the key stakeholders involved. |
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Literacy and the financial sector Ireland’s first ever, independent research into the issue of financial literacy, was commissioned by NALA and the EBS in 2005 and revealed that the problem of low financial literacy is not confined to those with literacy and numeracy difficulties, but exists in all social classes. |
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Literacy and health Many people who deal effectively with other aspects of their lives find health information difficult to obtain, understand, or use. Patients are often faced with complex information and treatment decisions. |
