multi-disciplinary approaches to literacy: models, correlations and causality bryan maddox, school...
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Multi-disciplinary Approaches Multi-disciplinary Approaches to Literacy: Models, to Literacy: Models,
Correlations and CausalityCorrelations and Causality
Bryan Maddox, School of Bryan Maddox, School of Development Studies, UEA.Development Studies, UEA.
The Language of CausalityThe Language of Causality
‘‘The law of causality, I believe, is a The law of causality, I believe, is a relic of bygone age, surviving like the relic of bygone age, surviving like the monarchy, only because it is monarchy, only because it is erroneously supposed to do no harm’erroneously supposed to do no harm’
(Bertrand Russell, cited in Pearl, ‘The (Bertrand Russell, cited in Pearl, ‘The Art and Science of Cause and Effect’ Art and Science of Cause and Effect’ 2000:337)2000:337)
Spurious CorrelationsSpurious Correlations
‘‘the definitive result of these the definitive result of these researches on the instruction of researches on the instruction of prisoners reveals that 67 out of prisoners reveals that 67 out of 100 are able neither to read or 100 are able neither to read or write. What stronger proof could write. What stronger proof could there be that ignorance, like there be that ignorance, like idleness, is the mother of all vices? idleness, is the mother of all vices? ’ (Porter 1986:28, citing Taillandier ’ (Porter 1986:28, citing Taillandier 1928).1928).
Unpacking CausalityUnpacking Causality… … choosing a topic to investigate means choosing a topic to investigate means
not only that one runs the danger of not only that one runs the danger of inflating its importance but, worse, of inflating its importance but, worse, of being seen as believing that human being seen as believing that human affairs are determined by a single affairs are determined by a single factor. Some writers even appear to factor. Some writers even appear to assume that what is meant by ‘causal assume that what is meant by ‘causal relations’ are those determined in this relations’ are those determined in this way – that is, situations that have one way – that is, situations that have one cause, everywhere, all the timecause, everywhere, all the time’ (Goody ’ (Goody 1986: xv). 1986: xv).
Barton and Hamilton (2000) Barton and Hamilton (2000) on Literacy Practices on Literacy Practices
Literacy is best understood as a set of Literacy is best understood as a set of social practices; these can be inferred social practices; these can be inferred from events which are mediated by from events which are mediated by written texts.written texts.
There are different literacies associated There are different literacies associated with different domains of life.with different domains of life.
Literacy practices are patterned by social Literacy practices are patterned by social institutions and power relationships, and institutions and power relationships, and some literacies are more dominant visible some literacies are more dominant visible and influential than others. and influential than others.
Literacy practices are purposeful and Literacy practices are purposeful and embedded in broader social goals and embedded in broader social goals and cultural practices.cultural practices.
Literacy is historically situated.Literacy is historically situated. Literacy practices change and new ones Literacy practices change and new ones
are frequently acquired though processes are frequently acquired though processes of informal learning and sense making.of informal learning and sense making.
Barton and Hamilton, in Barton, Hamilton Barton and Hamilton, in Barton, Hamilton and Ivanic (eds) ‘and Ivanic (eds) ‘Situated Literacies: Situated Literacies: Reading and Writing in ContextReading and Writing in Context’ (2000, p8)’ (2000, p8)
Ethnography and CausalityEthnography and Causality
‘‘Current theory, then, tells us that literacy Current theory, then, tells us that literacy in itself does not promote cognitive in itself does not promote cognitive advance, social mobility or progress: advance, social mobility or progress: Literacy practices are specific to the Literacy practices are specific to the political and ideological context and their political and ideological context and their consequences vary situationallyconsequences vary situationally’ (Street ’ (Street 1995:24);1995:24);
‘‘Social consequences are assumed to Social consequences are assumed to follow from literacy, such as follow from literacy, such as ‘modernisation’, ‘progress’ and economic ‘modernisation’, ‘progress’ and economic rationality to name a few. Recent research, rationality to name a few. Recent research, however has challenged this ‘autonomous’ however has challenged this ‘autonomous’ view’view’ (Street 1996:2). (Street 1996:2).
Models of Literacy Use: Basu, Models of Literacy Use: Basu, Foster and Subramanian Foster and Subramanian
(2000)(2000)‘‘....The government circulates an order The government circulates an order intimating the availability of social intimating the availability of social assistance to physically handicapped assistance to physically handicapped people, widows and accident victims. people, widows and accident victims. Agricultural extension workers disseminate Agricultural extension workers disseminate printed information on new technology printed information on new technology relating to irrigation and high yielding crop relating to irrigation and high yielding crop varieties, Leaflets are distributed by a non-varieties, Leaflets are distributed by a non-governmental organisation voluntary governmental organisation voluntary agency advising rural people of their agency advising rural people of their specific rights to information.specific rights to information.
The village money lender doctors the The village money lender doctors the statements of his borrowers’ liabilities to his statements of his borrowers’ liabilities to his own advantage. The public health office own advantage. The public health office puts out a simple printed bulletin on the puts out a simple printed bulletin on the advantages of oral rehydration. In every advantages of oral rehydration. In every one of these cases, an illiterate person is one of these cases, an illiterate person is poorly placed in the matter of availing poorly placed in the matter of availing himself of useful information, or resisting himself of useful information, or resisting misinformationmisinformation’ ’
From Basu, Foster and Subramanian (2000). From Basu, Foster and Subramanian (2000). ‘‘Isolated and Proximate Illiteracy. Isolated and Proximate Illiteracy. Economic Economic and Political Weeklyand Political Weekly. Vol. 35, January 8-14, . Vol. 35, January 8-14,
Factors and VariablesFactors and Variables
a)a) Types of Literacy PracticesTypes of Literacy Practices: How do people : How do people use literacy in particular contexts, the roles that use literacy in particular contexts, the roles that such practices have within institutions and such practices have within institutions and practices, and the approaches that people practices, and the approaches that people adopt in engaging with such practices adopt in engaging with such practices
b)b) Identity and Categories of PersonIdentity and Categories of Person: How do : How do people’s identities, or categories of person people’s identities, or categories of person influences their access to literacy skills and influences their access to literacy skills and practices, and the types of literacy practices practices, and the types of literacy practices and literacies that they engageand literacies that they engage ? ?
c) c) Literacy ValuesLiteracy Values: : How do systems of value How do systems of value influence people’s access and uses of literacy influence people’s access and uses of literacy and influence people’s view about what counts, and influence people’s view about what counts, and doesn’t count as literacy?and doesn’t count as literacy?
Causality Model 1Causality Model 1. Direct Instrumental . Direct Instrumental Causality: Where a person’s uses of Causality: Where a person’s uses of literacy have direct instrumental benefits literacy have direct instrumental benefits (for them, or others who benefit from (for them, or others who benefit from ‘literacy sharing’). ‘literacy sharing’).
Causality Model 2Causality Model 2. Indirect Instrumental . Indirect Instrumental Causality: Where a person’s literacy Causality: Where a person’s literacy influences peoples lives, but is not in-itself influences peoples lives, but is not in-itself the direct cause of social gain. the direct cause of social gain.
Causality Model 3Causality Model 3. Impact of Unseen . Impact of Unseen Factors: Where a 3rd factor (omitted Factors: Where a 3rd factor (omitted variables) influence both people’s access variables) influence both people’s access and uses of literacy, and other factors that and uses of literacy, and other factors that may be misread as being the direct impact may be misread as being the direct impact of literacyof literacy. .
