Helping adults with low literacy learn reading and writing
A Multi-skills Approach for Low Literate Adult Learners
This project compares reading and writing in adults with low literacy and children with similar skills to find better ways to teach adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mount Holyoke College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (South Hadley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11221117 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would take part alongside adults in adult basic education (ABE) programs who read below the 7th-grade level and children who match those reading skills. Researchers will match people on socio-economic background and measure how they read and write using targeted assessment tasks. The team will look for which specific skills or obstacles differ between adults and children. Results will be used to create assessment tools and teaching approaches designed specifically for adult learners.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults enrolled in adult basic education programs with reading levels below a 7th-grade level are the ideal participants.
Not a fit: Adults who already read at or above a 7th-grade level or whose reading difficulties stem primarily from severe hearing, vision, or neurological disorders may not benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to adult-focused tests and teaching methods that help adults improve reading, find work, participate in civic life, and understand healthcare information.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work indicates adult reading behavior can differ from children, but adult-specific assessment and intervention research is limited and this project builds on that small evidence base.
Where this research is happening
South Hadley, United States
- Mount Holyoke College — South Hadley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Binder, Kathy Susan — Mount Holyoke College
- Study coordinator: Binder, Kathy Susan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.