Understanding adults’ strong problem-solving skills based on PIAAC
Abstract
Purpose
Research has shown that the problem-solving skills of adults with a vocational education and training (VET) background in technology-rich environments (TREs) are often inadequate. However, some adults with a VET background do have sound problem-solving skills. The present study aims to provide insight into the socio-demographic, work-related and everyday life factors that are associated with a strong problem-solving performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The study builds on large-scale data of the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) and gives insight into VET adults (N = 12,929) with strong problem-solving skills in 11 European countries.
Findings
This study introduces new knowledge with respect to the socio-demographic, work-related and everyday life background factors that contribute to successful VET adults’ problem-solving skills. The findings of the authors illustrate that a continuous process of development including non-formal and informal activity, as well as learning taking place at work, is associated with strong performance in problem-solving skills in TRE.
Research limitations/implications
An important implication of this study is that this paper introduces novel knowledge for VET adults’ competences and can be used to support the development of VET adults’ problem-solving skills in TREs.
Originality/value
The study was conducted to explore new understanding about good problem-solvers in TREs with a VET background. The originality of the study derives from its focus on good problem-solvers in TREs related to a VET background. The findings can be used to create novel ways to enhance the development of VET adults’ problem-solving skills in TREs.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Academy of Finland under Grant number 292466 [the Multidisciplinary Research on Learning and Teaching profile of JYU].
Citation
Hämäläinen, R., De Wever, B., Nissinen, K. and Cincinnato, S. (2017), "Understanding adults’ strong problem-solving skills based on PIAAC", Journal of Workplace Learning, Vol. 29 No. 7/8, pp. 537-553. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-05-2016-0032
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited