[NLA] Measuring demand and latent demand

[David J. Rosen]

Tom and other NLA Colleagues,

Thomas Sticht wrote:

>All these various research studies seem to set up conflicting and
>sometimes contradictory messages about the scale of need for adult
>education and literacy development in the United States. What is an
>advocate to do? Can anything be done to provide advocates with accurate,
>valid, consistent, and convincing information about  how many adults in
>the U. S. need adult education and literacy development, and how many
>want it? Does anyone care?
>

I think it would be fruitful to find out what the actual demand is for 
adult education services, as measured by enrollment waiting lists (where 
they exist) and to try to get a measure on "latent demand," that is,  a 
measure (or measures) that would represent the number of people who -- 
if they knew the services were available, and if the  services were 
available at convenient times and places -- would enroll. Tom, I wonder 
if you -- or if other researchers on the NLA list -- have some thoughts 
about how we could get a reasonably accurate measure of latent demand.

David J. Rosen
<DJRosen at theworld.com>

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