How the study was conducted

"Nonparticipation in Literacy and Upgrading Programs: A National Study" set out to interview a significant number of individuals from across Canada between the ages of 18 and 69 who had not finished their secondary education, and uncover what their attitudes, perceptions and preferences are regarding upgrading and adult education.

The central aim is to uncover ways to increase appeal and improve programming by investigating nonparticipants' awareness and perceptions of, and preferences and motivations for, joining adult basic education programs.

Two-part study

The study was performed in two stages. The first stage involved interviewing 44 individuals in 12 provinces who had not completed high school or pursued upgrading.

These interviewees were encouraged to talk about their experiences and why they had not contacted an upgrading or literacy program. The quotes used in this summary come from these interviews.

Stage Two of the study was done on a much larger scale and included 866 telephone survey participants across Canada.

The survey questionnaire was designed to provide a comprehensive profile of individuals who left school early and of their reasons for not pursuing supplementary education or skills upgrades.

The data was weighted for age, gender, education level, and province, based on Statistics Canada data of Canadians who have not completed high school.

The authors and timing of the study

The data for "Nonparticipation in Literacy and Upgrading Programs: A National Study" was collected between October I999 and early 200I. Its authors are Ellen Long, Leanne Taylor, Doug Hart, Helen Breslauer, and Chris Slosser.

"I always wanted to go back to school, but I always had a hard time in school…. I didn't want to have a hard time again."
—Woman age 51, grade 6