Interviewer instructions
Show sentence on the card to the respondent.
If respondent cannot read whole sentence, probe: Can you read part of the sentence to me?
To ascertain whether women are literate or not, you will be showing the women you interview cards with pre-printed sentences on them, and asking women to read them. Note that this question will be asked only to women who have not attended school, or did not attend school beyond the primary level. We assume that women who have attended secondary school or higher are literate. However, it is also known that some women who have attended or even completed primary school may be functionally illiterate. Therefore, we need to ask this question to such women.
The cards will have the following four sentences:
1. The child is reading a book.
2. Parents must care for their children.
3. I like to go swimming in the ocean
4. Fishing is hard work.
Based on your knowledge of the respondent, choose the card with the language in which the respondent is likely to be able to read if she is literate. Show the first sentence on the card to the respondent. Give the respondent enough time to read the sentence; do not rush her. If the respondent cannot read the whole sentence, probe: "Can you read part of the sentence to me?"
