An exploration of U.S. adults' information processing skills and political efficacy

Periodical
Journal of Adult and Continuing Education
Volume
26
Year
2020
Issue number
2
Page range
178-202
Access date
March 22, 2023
Relates to study/studies
PIAAC Cycle 1

An exploration of U.S. adults' information processing skills and political efficacy

Abstract

As recent debates about the role of social media in election outcomes suggest, understanding the association between information processing skills and political efficacy in the U.S. is a significant inquiry for adult and continuing education. Data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies were used to explore relationships between U.S. participants' information processing skills and political efficacy. Given the impact of certain demographic characteristics on political efficacy, the study also analyzed whether the relationship between information processing skills and self-reported political efficacy varied across levels of cultural engagement, formal educational attainment, or immigrant status. The results illustrate that higher levels of literacy, numeracy, and problem solving in technology-rich environments are associated with higher political efficacy for U.S. participants. Our research is framed in both cognitive and critical lenses, and we provide implications for practice in adult and continuing education settings.