Making the most of PIAAC - Preliminary investigation of adults’ numeracy practices through secondary analysis of the PIAAC dataset

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Rizky

The Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) evaluates adult information-processing skills and gathers data on the frequency of work and everyday-life activities. This paper examines what secondary analysis of online anonymised PIAAC data can reveal about adults’ numeracy practices, while reviewing the dataset’s accessibility and user-friendliness for novice researchers and practitioners. The study encourages exploration of publicly available PIAAC data and reports the authors’ experience of accessing and using it for secondary analysis.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Secondary analysis approach and definitions

Secondary analysis of anonymised PIAAC data

What PIAAC is

Survey components and background

Survey design and participating rounds

Cycles, rounds, and reporting timeline

Key New Zealand findings

Coben, D., Miller-Reilly, B., Satherley, P., & Earle, D. (2016) . Making the most of PIAAC: Preliminary investigation of adults’numeracy practices through secondary analysis of the PIAAC dataset. Adults Learning Mathematics: An International Journal, 11(2), 27-40 Making the most of PIAAC: Preliminary investigation of adults’numeracy practices through secondary analysis of the PIAAC dataset Diana Coben University of Waikato, New Zealand <[dccoben@waikato.ac.nz](dccoben@waikato.ac.nz)> Barbara Miller-Reilly University of Auckland, New Zealand <[b.miller-reilly@aukckland.ac.nz](b.miller-reilly@aukckland.ac.nz)> Paul Satherley and David Earle Ministry of Education, New Zealand <[paul.satherley@minedu.govt.nz](paul.satherley@minedu.govt.nz)><[david.earle@minudu.govt.nz](david.earle@minudu.govt.nz)> Abstract The Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) assesses key information processing skills and collects information on how often people undertake a range of activities at work and in everyday life. We are exploring what secondary analysis of online anonymised PIAAC data can tell us about adults’ numeracy practices. In the process we review the accessibility and userfriendliness of the data for novice researchers and practitioners in the hope of encouraging them to explore this rich resource and give a brief account of our experience of the process of accessing publicly-available PIAAC data for secondary analysis. Key words: assessment, numeracy, adults, mathematics In this paper we explore what secondary analysis of data from the latest international Survey of Adult Skills in the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Skills (PIAAC 1), can tell us about adults’numeracy practices. In the process we are also reviewing the accessibility and user-friendliness of the dataset. We hope to encourage the exploration of this rich resource by practitioners and researchers, including those with little previous experience of working with large datasets. This is important because, as Hansen and Vignoles(2007, p. 1) point out “In the last few decades, there has been an unprecedented increase in the availability and quality of large-scale data sets that are suitable for use in education research. Analyses of these data have the potential to radically improve the robustness and generalisability of educational research”. In a still young but growing field such as adults learning mathematics, this is especially important. We focus on secondary analysis of anonymised publicly-available PIAAC data. We draw our understanding of secondary analysis from Dale, Watham and Higgins (2008, p. 520) :“Secondary analysis is generally understood as the analysis of data originally collected and analysed for another purpose”. In addition, Heaton (1998) says “Secondary analysis involves the use of existing data, collected for the purposes of a prior study, in order to pursue a research 1[http://www.oecd.org/site/piaac/surveyofadultskills.htm](http://www.oecd.org/site/piaac/surveyofadultskills.htm). Adults Learning Mathematics – An International Journal 27 interest which is distinct from that of the original work; this may be a new research question or an alternative perspective on the original question”. She adds that secondary analysis may be undertaken either by the original researchers or others. The OECD has published two analytical reports on PIAAC (OECD, 2013a, 2016a) . They relate to the first and second rounds of the PIAAC survey in participating countries. The New Zealand Ministries of Education, and Business, Innovation and Employment have published three initial reports: Ministry of Education & Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (2016a, 2016b, 2016c) . Secondary PIAAC analysis will tackle research questions and topics beyond what is covered in the initial reporting, or take different or more in-depth approaches. Examples include: • integrating different parts of

FAQs

What does PIAAC measure in this paper?

PIAAC assesses key information processing skills in adults of working age in Literacy (reading) and Numeracy, and collects information on how often adults undertake related activities in work and everyday life.

What is the paper’s focus regarding numeracy?

It explores what secondary analysis of online anonymised PIAAC data can tell about adults’ numeracy practices, emphasizing everyday life and work perspectives.

Why do the authors review the dataset’s accessibility?

The paper reviews accessibility and user-friendliness to encourage novice researchers and practitioners to explore publicly available PIAAC data for secondary analysis.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Rizky