In an innovative telephone interview researchers in San Diego assessed area resident's literacy-related and vocabulary knowledge. Using a random dialing method that produced a sample closely resembling the U. S. Census population, over 530 San Diego area, English-speaking adults, aged 18 years and above, were asked about their knowledge of famous authors, magazines, people, and vocabulary words.
Among the many interesting results of the survey were the findings that the intergenerational effects of parent's education on their adult children's knowledge was apparent. Father's education was statistically significantly related to the total knowledge score made-up of all four tests combined, while mother's education was related to the magazine knowledge test. Additionally, father's education was related to how much reading their adult children engaged in, while mother's education was not. This suggests that by helping parents gain more education, we are helping to create a second generation of adults who read more and know more. Since knowledge is power, investment in parent's education helps to empower the next generation.
Source: Sticht, T., Hofstetter, C. & Hofstetter, C. (1996).
Assessing Adult Literacy by Telephone. Journal of Literacy
Research, 28, 525-559
The ideas, conclusions, recommendations and policies included herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Applied Behavioral & Cognitive Sciences, Inc. T. Sticht can be reached at the ABC'S, 2062 Valley View Blvd., El Cajon, CA 92019, USA, telephone/fax: (619) 444-9595, email: tsticht@aznet.net.