Skills for Life Survey, 2011

<P>Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.</P>&nbsp;<br>The <i>Skills for Life Survey, 2011</i> (SfL2011), was a follow-up to the <i>Skills for Life Survey, 2003</i> (SfL2003) (held under SN 7239). SfL2011 examined the basic skills of adults, aged 16-65 years-old, in England. The aim of the survey was to: <ul><li>examine changes in literacy and numeracy levels among the adult population of England;</li><li>provide a baseline of ICT skills among adults in England; and </li><li>understand the demographic, social and motivational factors related to people's skills levels.</li></ul>The headline survey findings were published in 2011 and were used to inform policy strategy on basic skills, feeding into recommendations published in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/new-challenges-new-chances-next-steps-in-implementing-the-further-education-reform-programme" title="New Chances, New Challenges">New Chances, New Challenges</a> consultation outcome. The main survey report was published in 2012. Further information can be found on the gov.uk <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-innovation-skills/series/2011-skills-for-life-survey" title="Skills for Life Survey, 2011">Skills for Life Survey, 2011</a> webpage.<br><br><B>Main Topics</B>:<BR><br>The interview comprised a background questionnaire followed by a pre-assigned random combination of two of the three skills assessments: literacy, numeracy and Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The background questionnaire was designed to collect a broad set of relevant demographic and behavioural data. A refined and updated version of the 2003 background questionnaire was used; redundant items were removed and some new questions were added.<br>
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The literacy and numeracy assessment tools utilised were the same as those used in the 2003 survey to ensure absolute comparability with the 2003 survey. A new ICT assessment tool was, however, included. In the 2003 survey the ICT component comprised a two-part assessment. The first part was an assessment of knowledge consisting of 26 multiple choice items, the second a simple assessment of practical skills and the ability to apply knowledge. Major advances in software had made possible the development of a more valid and reliable assessment tool for ICT, using real office desktop applications that would resolve some of limitations of the 2003 assessment tool. The literacy, numeracy and ICT survey tools were designed to take a maximum of around 25 minutes each to complete.