The data, a result of the survey carried out by IBOPE Opinião, showed that 9% of the Brazilian population, in the age group from 15 to 64, was illiterate. Literate people were classified into three levels: 31% of the population that studied was classified in level 1 (rudimentary) of literacy, that is, they can extract explicit information only in very short texts; 34% in level 2 (basic) that can also identify non-explicit information in longer texts; and 26% in level 3 (full) literacy, who is able to read longer texts, identify more than one piece of information and establish relationships among several elements of the text.
In order to carry out the research, 2,000 people, from 15 to 64 years old, from all over Brazil and all social classes, were interviewed from August 31 to September 9, 2001. The reading and writing skills were verified directly through the application of a test. In addition, detailed information was collected on the uses people make of these skills in various contexts. Finally, all this information could be complemented by a survey of the individuals’ own opinions about their abilities and dispositions regarding reading and writing.