Adults
Support to organizations
Research
The Literacy Foundation participates in numerous studies and research projects in the search for a better understanding of the causes of this problem and so as to be able to take the most timely action to counter illiteracy.
The Foundation can offer support to researchers and organizations interested in adults undergoing training by placing its wide-reaching knowledge of this clientele at their disposal. Through its Referral Department, the Foundation is in touch with thousands of adults each year, thus gathering a multitude of information on this clientele.
Among the research in which the Foundation has collaborated are the following projects:
Research project on essential skills:
Literacy Foundation, present on the Canadian and international scene
Through this research entitled “Essential skills training in Quebec for workers with little schooling: ‘professional representation’ of sectoral committees and training contexts,” it was possible to gauge the levels of understanding and involvement with respect to essential skills in Quebec’s different industries.
The nine essential skills in the workplace according to Human Resources and Social Development Canada are:
1. Reading text
2. Document use
3. Numeracy
4. Writing
5. Oral communication
6. Working with others
7. Thinking skills
8. Computer use
9. Continuous learning
By studying the representation of this concept in relation to 26 sectoral committees (comprising workers, and union, management and government representatives), we analysed how they arrive at action plans for providing their labour force with training. The findings of this research could thus help guide future awareness strategies and inform managers wishing to involve their companies in this type of training.
| Research leader: | Chantal Ouellet, University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM) | |
| Co-researchers: | Catherine Garnier, UQAM Mehran Ebrahimi, UQAM |
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| Collaborators: | Nicolas Dedek, Literacy Foundation Isabelle Médeiros, UQAM Marjolaine Thouin, UQAM |
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| Partner: | Literacy Foundation |
Timeline
2005
A meeting was held from April 25 to 27, 2005 in Edmonton, Alberta, bringing together seven research projects on essential skills in the workplace. The Literacy Foundation attended as a partner in the research conducted by Chantal Ouellet.
2006
On June 7, 8 and 9, 2006, the seven research groups met once again in Montreal, in the UQAM Education Faculty, to report on the progress of their work and share numerous findings at the “Essential Skills Workshop 2006.” The Workshop proceedings are now available in English and French.
2007
An article based on the research was published in The Pedagogy of Lifelong Learning.
Continuous training practices and occupational representation of workers with little schooling in the manufacturing sector who have taken basic skills training
2003
University of Quebec at Montreal
This research looks at the prospects of continuing training of workers with little schooling who have already taken basic skills courses. The research questions are as follows: Does having taken basic skills training encourage workers with little schooling to undertake continuous training practices? Which continuous training practices do they undertake, and which conditions encourage the workers to undertake these practices? The research is exploratory and qualitative.
Research leader: Chantal Ouellet, University of Quebec at Montreal
In progress
Experimentation with an integrated model for illiteracy prevention
2001-2002
University of Montreal
| Research leader: | Régine Pierre, University of Montreal | |
| Co-researchers: | Luc Brunet, University of Montreal Lucie Godard, University of Quebec at Montreal Marie Labelle, University of Quebec at Montreal |
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| Collaborator: | José Morais, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium | |
| Partners: | Commission scolaire de Montréal Quebec Literacy Foundation |
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| Not currently available |
Systems of social representation of literacy of illiterate adults and adults undergoing literacy training
2001-2002
University of Quebec at Montreal
The purpose of the research is to understand how systems of social representation of literacy intervene in the development of a culture of literacy and continuous learning in the family. It will involve highlighting the ideas, opinions, knowledge, attitudes and beliefs concerning literacy of illiterate people and individuals undergoing literacy training, but also the types of relationship they maintain in and with their living environments and the setting where they receive training.
| Research leader: | Catherine-Michèle Garnier, University of Quebec at Montreal | |
| Co-researcher: | Hélène Ziarko | |
| Collaborators: | Chantal Ouellet, University of Quebec at Montreal Centre Option-compétences |
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| Partner: | Quebec Literacy Foundation |
Not currently available