Adult literacy and lifestyle changes: Understanding the special awareness, needs and stories of six adults who are literacy challenged

Comparatively few studies examined the possible lifestyle changes of adults whose literacy skills have improved. This research studied the experiences of 6 men and women with literacy challenges, who received help with literacy skills to determine if they perceived improvements in the quality of their lifestyles owing to improvements in their skills. This study focussed on the stories told by these adults after their literacy skills had improved. This thesis is based on interviews with 6 adults who were previously literacy challenged, 3 currently living in Canada and 3 presently residing in England. From a reflexive inquiry of my own involvement in the research process, I considered in this study the difficulties of entering the private world of adults with literacy challenges. Using a narrative inquiry method, I analyzed the interview results and found a positive correlation between the acquisition of literacy skills and the recognition of self-esteem and lifestyle change. The narrative inquiry method encouraged me to examine my own role as practitioner researcher. In doing so, I reexamined my 25-year assumptions about a researcher's supposed detachment and possible responsibility in the research process.