Adult education in mathematics and numeracy: a scoping review of recent research

Abstract

The paper responds to the need for understanding trends and gaps in extant research related to adult education in mathematics and numeracy, given changing skill demands and skill gaps regarding adults, and related policy, theorizing, and practice trends. This paper presents the results of a scoping review of recent empirical research related to adult education in mathematics and numeracy, published in 22 selected journals from 2019 to 2022, including 15 journals in adult education and seven in mathematics education. The results show that only 39 relevant empirical studies were found among over 2300 research papers reviewed, and that few of those focus on practice-related of adult education in mathematics and numeracy. The results provide quantitative evidence suggesting that the field of adult numeracy education is under-researched, and help to identify gaps in empirical research involving adult numeracy, including on emerging topics such as on modeling and critical interpretation. The results also point to research opportunities that can strengthen theorizing and practice in both mathematics education and adult numeracy education.