Assessing the Complexity of Literacy Tasks
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Exercise 1 - Answers

Questions 1., 2., and 3:

Step 1- Type of task

Document use - Level 1

Type
Document

Level
1

ToI
2

ToM
1

PoD
2

Type of information

amount (2)

Type of match

locate, match single phrase (1)

Plausibility of distractors

assume other amounts for requested (2)

 

Step 2- Type of task

Quantitative - Level 2

Type
Quant.

Level
2

ToO
3

SoO
3

PoD
1

Type of operation

requested months; multiply (years x 12) (3)

Specificity of operation

inferred operation, not set up for calculation (3)

Plausibility of distractors

none (1)

 

Step 3- Type of task

Quantitative - Level 2

Type
Quant.

Level
3

ToO
3

SoO
5

PoD
2

Type of operation

multiply (3)

Specificity of operation

not in row/column; operation based on ratio (%);

 

number entered from previous task, (5)

Plausibility of distractors

probably several for the requested information, depending where the decimal point is placed (2)

 

Step 4- Type of task

Quantitative - Level 2

Type
Quant.

Level
2

ToO
3

SoO
2

PoD
1

Type of operation

multiply (3)

Specificity of operation

numbers in column, but not adjacent; numbers

 

entered from previous task (2)

Plausibility of distractors

none (1)

 

Step 5- Type of task

Quantitative - Level 1

Type
Quant.

Level
1

ToO
2

SoO
2

PoD
1

Type of operation

subtract (2)

Specificity of operation

numbers not adjacent, numbers entered

 

from previous task (2)

Plausibility of distractors

none (1)

 
  1. The highest score for ‘specificity’ is the third step. Many people will have problems multiplying by .05 %, an operation that is based on knowledge of how to interpret percentage as a ratio
 
  1. The easiest step is the first - locate and enter pension amount from previous page.
 

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