From Heroic Victims to Competent Comrades: Views of Adult Literacy Learners in the Research Literature. (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Belzer, Alisa; Pickard, Amy
• Is Part Of: Adult education quarterly. Volume 65:Number 3(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 250
• Page End: 266
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: adult literacy -- learners -- profiles -- qualitative synthesis; Adult education -- Periodicals; Continuing education -- Periodicals; Teaching -- Periodicals; 374.005
• DOI: 10.1177/0741713615580015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0741-7136

Abstract

This research synthesis analyzed qualitative depictions of adult literacy learners and identified five ways in which they are typically characterized: the Heroic Victim, the Needy (Problem) Child, the Broken (but Repairable) Cog, the Pawn of Destiny, and the Capable Comrade. These types do not capture the diversity or complexity of all adult literacy learners, and we do not argue that they are comprehensive. Rather they are representative of the ways in which adult literacy learners are portrayed in the research literature. We argue that each type, like characters in a narrative, drive the "action" in research, policy, and practice arena. The ways in which they populate research may have very real consequences for how adult literacy learning opportunities are provided and the outcomes that can be expected.