Research

In the field of adult numeracy there are a plethora of reports, some of which claim a research base. However, most of these tend to be both dry and jargon laden. These reports circulate, no unlike a car spinning it wheel trying to get of of the mud and yet digging only deeper in into murkiness.

The purpose of this section is to only present clear cut empirical research into adult numeracy.
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This first piece of research takes a look into the fascinating world of probabilistic numeracy.

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Here is an excellent study by Gail FitzSimons which looks at situated numeracy practices in a workplace - aptly titled "Learning numeracy on the job'.
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This is a comprehensive piece of research by Jon Swain, Elizabeth Baker, Deborah Holder, Barbara Newmarch and Diana Coben in 2005. It employs a number of methods including ethnographical approaches, case studies, interviews, diaries, photographs and the like. It also looks at some of the theoretical orientations that informed the research.

The findings include the very important area of adult numeracy practices outside the classroom.
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This recent article by FitzSimons and Coben (2009) looks at the implications of recent research for the teaching of adult numeracy for work and life. It is certainly a very worhtwhile read and does not skirt around the hard theoretical questions.


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