What is the Research Evidence for EBRI?

Since 2002, there have been four national publications reporting on the integration of scientific reading research findings and adult literacy expert conclusions. All were supported by the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) - Partnership for Reading. Upon closure of NIFL in 2010, all were transferred to the Literacy Information Network and Communication System (LINCS) at http://lincs.ed.gov for downloading and printing. All recommend implementation of EBRI practices in ABE; each is referenced and briefly described below in chronological order.

Research-Based Principles for Adult Basic Education Reading Instruction (2002) summarizes about 70 research studies from the field of adult literacy and identifies emerging principles (based on two or more experimental studies), trends (based on less than two experimental studies), and ideas (based on reading research with children). This publication was directed by the Reading Research Working Group and authored by John R. Kruidenier. Kruidenier 2002.pdf

Teaching Adults to Read: A Summary of Scientifically-Based Research Principles (2005) further summarizes the research and briefly describes implications for teachers. For all four components of reading, it answers: What is the component? Why teach it? How do you assess it? This publication was authored by Mary E. Curtis and John R. Kruidenier. Curtis & Kruidenier 2005.pdf

Getting Reading Results in the Classroom: What Research Tells Us (2010) reports via webcast and transcript on findings from multi-year research projects investigating literacy skill development of students enrolled in Adult Basic and Secondary Education classrooms.

Adult Education Literacy Instruction: A Review of the Research (2010) was intended as a follow-up to the 2002 report. It prioritizes scientifically-based adult education research, determines gaps in this research, and fills in those gaps with research findings from K-12 reading, K-12 second language, K-12 reading and writing, adolescent reading, and other adult populations. This publication was authored by John R. Kruidenier, Charles A. MacArthur, and Heide S. Wrigley and presents “stronger and weaker” findings for adult reading instruction. Kruidenier MacArthur & Wrigley 2010.pdf

Finally, a highly respected publication from The National Academies Press recommends most, if not all, EBRI practices for academically underprepared students enrolled in ABE programs or developmental courses in post-secondary settings.

Improving Adult Literacy Instruction: Options for Practice and Research (2012) was in response to a request from USDE to the National Research Council “to (1) synthesize research on literacy and learning, (2) draw implications for the instructional practices used to teach reading in adult literacy programs, and (3) recommend a more systematic approach to research, practice, and policy” (National Research Council, p. 1). This resource is available to download here.

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