This research note discusses the tested and perceived reading skills of adults in the US. It breaks the statistics down by cultural group and by gender, and compares the results for the US to those of other countries.

The author suggests that it would be useful to study these cultural experiences with regard to the differences between adults' measured literacy abilities and their self-perceptions of their literacy abilities, and to use this information to better understand the scale of need and desire for adults to participate in the Adult Education and Literacy System of the United States.