The survey of adult skills : reader’s companion.

Foreword
 Acknowledgements
 Table of Contents
 Reader\'s Guide
 Introduction
 Chapter 1 --
What the Surveyof Adult Skills (PIAAC) Measures
 Some major features of the assessment
 An assessment of key information-processing competencies
 A use-oriented conception of competency
 Proficiency as a continuum
 The importance of contextual information
 Box 1.1 Competencies or skills?
 An overview of literacy, numeracy and problem solving in technology-rich environments
 Table 1.1 Summary of assessment domains in the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC)
 Literacy
 Definition
 Content
 Cognitive strategies. ContextsDistribution of test items by task characteristics
 Table 1.2 Distribution of literacy items by medium
 Table 1.3 Distribution of literacy items by context
 Table 1.4 Distribution of literacy items by cognitive strategy
 Literacy sample items
 Reading components
 Examples of reading component items
 Numeracy
 Definition
 Content
 Representations of mathematical information
 Cognitive strategies
 Contexts
 Distribution of test items by task characteristics
 Table 1.5 Distribution of numeracy items by response type
 Table 1.6 Distribution of numeracy items by context. Table 1.7 Distribution of numeracy items by mathematical contentNumeracy sample items
 Problem solving in technology-rich environments
 Definition
 Content
 Cognitive strategies
 Contexts
 Distribution of test items by task characteristics
 Table 1.8 Distribution of problem-solving tasks by cognitive dimensions
 Table 1.9 Distribution of problem-solving tasks by technology dimensions
 Table 1.10 Distribution of problem-solving tasks by context
 Table 1.11 Distribution of problem-solving tasks by intrinsic complexity (number of steps). Table 1.12 Distribution of problem-solving tasks by intrinsic complexity (number of constraints)Table 1.13 Distribution of problem-solving tasks by explicitness of problem statement
 Problem-solving sample item
 Notes
 References
 Chapter 2 --
The Background Questionnaire of the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC)
 The characteristics and background of respondents
 Table 2.1 Data collected concerning the characteristics and background of respondents
 Educational attainment and participation in learning activities. Table 2.2 Information collected regarding educational experience and current participationin learning activitiesLabour force status, work history and job characteristics
 Table 2.3 Information collected regarding labour force status, work history and job characteristics
 Social participation and health
 Table 2.4 Information collected on social participation and health
 The use of skills
 Engagement as a component of proficiency
 The role of literacy and numeracy practices and computer use in maintaining and developing skills
 Comparative information on a broader range of key skills.