Measuring Literacy: A Scoping Review

Literacy is a foundation for individual well-being and societal development, shaping outcomes in health, employment, equity, and participation. Its measurement is complex, as definitions of literacy are diverse and continually evolving. This scoping review examines how literacy has been conceptualized and assessed in Canadian and North American contexts. 177 works published between 2014 and 2024 were identified from academic databases and grey literature. Data extraction and analysis classified literacy types, conceptualizations, instruments, indicators, populations, and funding contexts. Overall, findings point to a need for flexible, equitable, and culturally relevant assessment approaches that integrate quantitative and qualitative methods.