Workplace literacy assessment

Abstract

This is a report of applied research into assessment of learning in three workplace literacy programs for paraprofessional health care workers in the USA. In these programs the employees sought to improve skills in reading, writing, mathematics, and problem solving needed on the job. These skills, along with self-concept and self-efficacy, were assessed using a variety of instruments including informal tests, teacher ratings, self-report scales, and standardized measures. Links between instruction and assessment are described for a workplace literacy program for psychiatric health aides, in which statistically significant pre-post gains were obtained for reading comprehension, writing skills, self-efficacy and self-concept. Issues affecting workplace literacy assessment include participant attrition, the nature of measures (formal vs informal) and transfer of training from job-specific to general reading abilities. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.