The Survey of Adult Skills: Reader’s Companion

This reader’s companion for the Survey of Adult Skills explains what the survey measures and the methodology behind the measurements, provides content of the background questionnaires, examines the relationship between this survey and other skills surveys, as well the issues of ‘key competencies' and measurements of human capital.

Contents:

Reader’s guide

Introduction

Chapter 1. What the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) measures
+ Some major features of the assessment
++ An assessment of key information-processing competencies
++ A use-oriented conception of competency
++ Proficiency as a continuum
++ The importance of contextual information
+ An overview of literacy, numeracy and problem solving in technology-rich environments
+ Problem solving in technology-rich environments

Chapter 2. The background questionnaire of the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC
+ The characteristics and background of respondents
+ Educational attainment and participation in learning activities
+ Labour force status, work history and job characteristics
+ Social participation and health
+ The use of skills

Chapter 3. The methodology of the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) and the quality of data
+ Assessment design
+ Sampling
+ Translation and adaptation of instruments
+ Survey administration
+ Response rates and non-response bias analysis
+ Literacy-related non-response
+ Scoring
+ Overall assessment of data quality

Chapter 4. Reporting the results of the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC)
+ The proficiency scales
+ Proficiency levels
+ Test languages and reporting

Chapter 5. Relationship of the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) to other international skills surveys
+ Countries participating in the Survey of Adult Skills and IALS and/or ALL
+ Constructs and instruments: The Survey of Adult Skills, ALL and IALS
+ Comparability of background questions
+ Survey methods and operational standards and procedures
+ Educational attainment in IALS
+ Summary of the relationship between the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC), IALS and ALL
+ The relationship between the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC), LAMP and STEP

Chapter 6. Relationship between the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) and the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)
+ PISA cohorts in the target population of the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC)
+ Differences in the target populations
+ Skills assessed
+ Psychometric links
+ The relationships between constructs in the domains of literacy, numeracy and problem solving
+ Conclusion

Chapter 7. The Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) and ‘key competencies’
+ The definition of key competencies
+ The Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) and key competencies

Chapter 8. The Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) and the measurement of human capital
+ Defining ‘human capital’
+ Coverage of the dimensions of human capital in the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC)
+ Educational attainment as a measure of human capital
+ Comparing measures of human capital
+ Empirical evidence
+ Enhancing the measurement of human capital

Annex A. relationship between the level of descriptors used in the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) and other skills surveys

Annex B. Content of Background Questionnaires in the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) and other skills surveys

Annex C. Project participants of the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC)

Website: OECD iLibrary http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/

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