This research reports the development and testing of a practical instrument-the Self-Description Questionnaire (ABE/ASE form)-that can readily be used by teachers to identify the psychosocial factors which may be major contributors to the learning problems experienced by low-literate adults. The instrument, which was developed from a methodology based on the epigenetic theory of Erik Erikson, gives psychosocial profiles of individuals. The study reports on the reliability and validity of the instrument. The report also provides some concrete examples to demonstrate how teachers can make use of the framework and the data obtained from the instrument.
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