Design and Elaboration of an Instrument to Assess Adult Innumeracy

Abstract

A test for the evaluation of innumeracy in adults is presented. The test is based on an operational definition of innumcracy which was developcd, along the lines proposed by Reeves (1994), from an analysis ofthe basic goals and minimal content requirements for elementary and secondary mathematics established by the Chilean Ministry of Education. fie test yields an innumeracy profile highlighting arcas of deficiency in the person and/or group evaluated, and thereby facilitates the design of appropfiate remedial programs. Sumrisingly negative results obtained when the test was administered to a group of university students, in the course of its development, suggest that there is significant deficiency in adult numeracy in Chile.