3.3. SAMPLE

Two samples were selected:

• Sample of ABE programs in Canada (N =360); and
• Sample of women students in ABE programs in Canada (N =30).

3.3.1. Population

The sample of ABE programs was selected from a population of ABE programs in each province and in the Yukon and Northwest Territories which had two or more of the following characteristics:

• offered to both men and women;

• offered to women only;

• provide education for the acquisition of basic literacy and/or numeracy skills;

• provide education for academic upgrading; and/or

• provide education for life skills training.

Excluded from the sample were English as a Second Language (ESL) programs and programs for handicapped persons.

The student sample was selected from a population of women students, 15 years or older, in those ABE programs selected for the program sample (described above). This sample included women who were attending both full-time and part-time programs. While attempts were made to select both French and English-speaking students for the sample, only English-speaking students were included. No response was received from providers of programs for Francophone with respect to information about particular students who would be willing to be involved in the survey.

3.4. METHOD OF SAMPLE SELECTION

Neither the ABE program nor the student samples were selected on a random basis. The most recently updated central directory of ABE programs in Canada was published in 1978, and ABE program directories do not exist in all provinces. Therefore, it was difficult to select random samples. In lieu of ABE directories, the members and affiliates of CCLOW, and others on the CCLOW mailing list, were asked to identify ABE programs in their areas and, when appropriate, to provide CCLOW with sample copies of teacher and student materials and curriculum guides. Where directories were available (in Ontario), programs were selected randomly. A sample of 360 ABE programs was selected (see Appendix B for the distribution of these programs by province). Responses were received from 106 programs; only 98 of these were used in the study.

The student sample was obtained through written requests to instructors and administrators of ABE programs in the program sample. They were asked to provide the ABE project staff with names, addresses and telephone numbers of those women students who would be willing to be interviewed about their experiences in, and perception of, the programs. Instructors and/or administrators from a total of 55 programs were asked for such information. Responses were received from only seven programs.

Thirty-three women students were identified as willing to take part in the survey. These students were telephoned by the ABE project staff to make arrangements for the interviews. Interviews were conducted with 30 of the 33 students.