A study focused on researchers' use of the English-Language Background Questionnaire (EBQ) portion of the National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS), the results of which were released in 1993. Data were gathered by surveying NALS data users about how they have used the EBQ data, their perspectives on the strengths and weaknesses of the EBQ, and their recommendations for changes to the EBQ. A content analysis was also conducted of published research papers that have involved analyses of the EBQ data to determine how the data were used in these research analyses. The study also drew upon recommendations garnered by a series of focus groups conducted by the American Institutes for Research in 1998. These sources were integrated with the study's own analysis of the NALS data. The following changes to the EBQ for future adult literacy assessments were recommended: expand the questions pertaining to educational experiences; expand the section on social and political participation or move the current items to other areas and delete this section; add an item on voter registration; acquire more detailed information regarding work history, wages, and parents' occupations; expand the section pertaining to literacy practices; and gather information on technological literacy practices. (Appendixes include 34 references; instruments; and studies examined for content review.) (YLB)

The 2003 Nat. Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) assessed the English literacy of adults in the U.S. The assessment was administered to more than 19,000 adults (ages 16 and older). The tasks included on the assessment were designed to measure functional literacy. Unlike indirect measures of literacy, the assessment measured literacy directly through tasks completed by adults. These tasks represent a range of literacy activities that adults are likely to face in their daily lives. The main literacy assessment and the core literacy tasks are two of the four components of the NAAL project. This report focuses on the results of the remaining two components: the Fluency Addition to NAAL and the Adult Literacy Supplemental Assessment. Tables.