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2 Overview of Numeracy
Pages 3-28

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From page 3...
... For example, the National Assessment of Adult Literacy includes numeracy, and the West Virginia Department of Education defines literacy as "the ability to read, write, and speak in English, and compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency" (West Virginia Department of Education, 3
From page 4...
... The term "numeracy" was initially conceptualized in England and its use is relatively recent in this country, Ginsburg said. One of the earlier definitions of numeracy includes the concept of "at-homeness" with numbers and an ability to use math skills, which enable an individual to cope with practical mathematical demands of everyday life.
From page 5...
... This process may face particular challenges in the United States as the focus of adult education interest has long tended to be on adult literacy rather than across literacy, numeracy, and language as is the case in other countries. Therefore, in American culture it is acceptable to say, "I cannot do math" and "Nobody in my family can do math," as if low numeracy skills are somehow genetic.
From page 6...
... This is more complicated than it appears at first, Ginsburg said, and people need to be able to figure out if they will come out even in this scenario. Family and personal numeracy include things like shopping, cooking, and health-related decisions that are part of everyday activities.
From page 7...
... Forty-three percent of Americans scored in Below Basic or Basic levels for prose literacy, 34 percent for document literacy, and 55 percent for quantitative literacy, indicating that Americans demonstrated greatest weakness in the mathematical assessment, Ginsburg said. The International Life Skills Survey, which contains a richer idea of numeracy because it includes how people manage situations and solve problems in a real context, involves responding to information about mathematical ideas.
From page 8...
... People who are innumerate tend to understand less numeric information; however, low numeracy skills are not just about comprehension of numeric information. People who are less numerate use numeric and nonnumeric information in ways that are different from the more numerate.
From page 9...
... population can do fairly simple number operations, such as locate numbers in a text, and perform simple quantitative operations such as addition if they are told that it is addition or it can be easily inferred from the situation. She noted that another third have somewhat more advanced basic quantitative literacy skills, and then another third have intermediate skills that allow them to locate less familiar quantitative information and use that information to solve problems.
From page 10...
... Each Each with Level (NAAL) Below Basic 22% 29% 18% Locating numbers and using them to perform simple quantitative operations (primarily addition)
From page 11...
... Analytical skills are considered more difficult than computational skills in this hierarchy of numeracy skills. Statistical skills, which are often required for understanding the inherent randomness of life and the role of risk in making health decisions, are considered among the hardest of these skills.
From page 12...
... The first example task, comparing and calculating the differences among the premiums of different health plans, falls into the Below Basic numeracy skill level. Peters and her colleagues estimated that about 29 percent of the uninsured population would possess Below Basic skill levels, meaning that most of the population and those with higher level skills would be able to complete this task.
From page 13...
... Item Selection Decision-based) Below Basic Calculate the Compare and calculate Basic; Analytical price difference the difference between Information (29% of between two monthly premiums of Seeking; uninsured appliances, using two plans.
From page 14...
... Some of the tasks involved in, for example, diabetes management or other chronic disease management require these higher level skills. The final question addressed in the commissioned paper is how providers can best communicate with individuals with lower numeracy skills.
From page 15...
... Health decisions and health behaviors involve a great deal of numeric information either explicitly or implicitly, Peters said. Peters concluded by saying that the average numeracy skills in the population brought into the health insurance and health care systems by the ACA are likely to be lower than that of the current population in those systems.
From page 16...
... She said that there is evidence that people who are less numerate tend to trust numbers less within the health context and may be more likely to avoid numbers and not focus on numbers even when presented with them. This can make a difference in how much people interact with numeric information or avoid it in making judgments or decisions.
From page 17...
... Roundtable member Wilma Alvarado-Little asked how the presenters envisioned the role of the health insurance exchange navigators (those people who will help consumers) in alleviating some of the problems caused by low numeracy and how they would empower navigators to address these issues.
From page 18...
... Peters answered that there has not been much research on verbal communication of numeric information; most of the research has been done on written communication. That raises some questions because most health care providers communicate verbally.
From page 19...
... The provider must help the patient understand what numbers are in the range and whether they are good or bad. Ginsburg added that from a mathematical education perspective, multiple representations of a concept help people understand and learn math.
From page 20...
... However, many studies indicate that poor health and chronic disease can impact cognition, but none were specifically related to numeracy. Davis spoke about her personal experience as a patient, noting that since she has been on the faculty of a medical college for 30 years and has done extensive research into health literacy, she should have proficient health literacy skills.
From page 21...
... After conducting research with colleagues, Davis said she found that the majority of consumers do not read OTC medication instructions. In addition, people develop their own schematics for taking OTC medication based on what they have always done or what others around them have done, but not based on the instructions provided with the medication.
From page 22...
... Finally, Davis said, high literacy and assertiveness do not guarantee adequate health literacy. Insurance was another area that tests even the strongest numeracy skills, Davis said.
From page 23...
... Even employees of insurance companies often have a difficult time explaining the statement of benefits to consumers. It is difficult to know which source of information is trustworthy, Davis added.
From page 24...
... Technology companies use this method to help people who are not experts to use their products correctly, Davis said. Robert Logan from the NLM commented that the NLM was completing work on a website that contains high-quality images of pills to help consumers identify medications.
From page 25...
... There are few one- or twosyllable names and they are all gone, so the names continue to get more complex. Loveland also said that she believes that for people coming into the health care system via the ACA there will have to be better communication about why they should have health insurance.
From page 26...
... 2000. Literacy in the information age: Final report of the International Adult Literacy Survey.
From page 27...
... 1997. Why numbers count: Quantitative literacy for tomorrow's America.


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