Information Analyses (070) Numerical/Quantitative Data

This study develops a literacy profile of Ontario's youth (ages 17-25) using data from the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS). Following an introductory section, Section 2 provides a background on the IALS database and discusses key methodological issues. Section 3 presents an overview of basic literacy statistics. Section 4 compares results across four Canadian regions and across different countries. Section 5 explores differences in literacy among selected youth characteristics. Section 6 looks into the impact of extracurricular activities on the literacy levels of Ontario's youth. Section 7 addresses consequences of low literacy among youth. Section 8 identifies the main conclusions, including the following: (1) Ontario youth have better literacy skills than older Ontarians; (2) the rate of Ontario youth who exceed level 2 in document literacy is about the same as the national average; (3) relative to the national average, Ontario's youth skills are weaker in prose and quantitative literacy; (4) the strongest determinant of youth literacy is the individual's level of education, the second strongest is the mother's education; (5) activities with the strongest positive effect on the document literacy score are attending or participating in sports, using public libraries, taking courses, attending movies, plays, or concerts at least monthly, and limiting time spent watching television; and (6) literacy has an economic payoff. (Data tables are appended.) (YLB) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. 1 z O acy On t