Is Literacy a Multi-dimensional Concept? Some Empirical Evidence

21 Pages Posted: 9 Jan 2021

See all articles by Georgios A. Panos

Georgios A. Panos

University of Glasgow - Adam Smith Business School

Theocharis Kromydas

University of Glasgow - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit

Michael Osborne

University of Glasgow

Robert E. Wright

University of Glasgow - Adam Smith Business School

Date Written: October 30, 2020

Abstract

Literacy is a multi-dimensional concept. In this chapter, seven potential dimensions of literacy are considered: (1) Mathematical literacy, (2) Foreign language literacy, (3) Digital literacy, (4) Financial literacy, (5) Political literacy, (6) Environmental literacy, and (7) Health literacy. Data from the Glasgow-based Integrated Multimedia City Data (iMCD) project included information that allows for the operationalization of these dimensions. Multiple-regression analysis is used to explore the correlates of these dimensions of literacy. One key finding is that there are gender differences in all the dimensions of literacy. There are large advantages in favour of males with respect to political, digital, financial, and environmental literacy, health and mathematical literacy. The only advantage in the favour of females is foreign language literacy.

Keywords: Human Literacy; Mathematical Literacy, Foreign Language Literacy, Digital Literacy, Financial Literacy, Political Literacy, Environmental Literacy, Health Literacy.

JEL Classification: G53, I22, O33, Z13

Suggested Citation

Panos, Georgios A. and Kromydas, Theocharis and Osborne, Michael and Wright, Robert Edward, Is Literacy a Multi-dimensional Concept? Some Empirical Evidence (October 30, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3733207 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3733207

Georgios A. Panos (Contact Author)

University of Glasgow - Adam Smith Business School ( email )

Gilbert Scott Building
University Avenue
Glasgow, Scotland G128QQ
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://https://sites.google.com/site/georgiosapanos/

Theocharis Kromydas

University of Glasgow - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit ( email )

Glasgow
United Kingdom

Michael Osborne

University of Glasgow ( email )

School of Education
R321 Level 3, St Andrew's Building
Glasgow, Scotland G3 6NH
United Kingdom
+441413303414 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/education/staff/michaelosborne/

Robert Edward Wright

University of Glasgow - Adam Smith Business School ( email )

Glasgow, Scotland
United Kingdom

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