Narrowing Research Focus

Although I am still looking at this issue comprehensively for a work assignment, I have decided to narrow the focus of my research as far as the research proposal for this class. Instead of putting together a proposal to conduct research from a variety of complicated industry, crime, health, and social service standpoints, I will be focusing on industry. I decided this because that is the sector where I will be doing the most actual real-world research (in the form of surveys and interviews), and much of the information gathering regarding other sectors will just be done by finding existing and analyzing existing studies and statistics. Having a much more specific, narrow focus will also help me keep my sanity as I'm working on this project among the many other things I have going on right now.

New research questions:

• Are basic literacy skills being taught in workplace education programs provided by WorkReadySC and other government-funded programs through the Department of Employment and Workforce?
• If not (and my preliminary research indicates not, or at least not directly), is there a need for it, and would the investment to add literacy training to the programs be economically worth it?

I will survey human resource professionals from the top employers in 11 midlands counties to find out if they see a need in their workforce for increased literacy skills, and how one's basic literacy skills/education effects their hiring decisions. For example, have they had to bring in workers from other states or countries in order to fill skilled job positions, because there was not enough sufficiently educated and skilled workers in their area? I will also interview the people who actually provide workforce training through these programs, to see what their observations and experiences have been regarding the various literacy levels of program participants, and how that has effecting their employability. And, if they think adding basic education/literacy instruction would be beneficial to their program participants.