Ocean Literacy Assessments
As the Ocean Literacy movement grows worldwide, it is increasingly important to be able to evaluate the effectiveness of our efforts, and to measure progress toward the goal of Ocean Literacy in local communities, globally, and among a wide range of subgroups. Two collaborative, international efforts have resulted in the development of two different survey instruments, each designed for a different purpose.
International Ocean Literacy Survey (IOLS)
The International Ocean Literacy Survey is a community-developed, open-access measurement tool that allows the comparison of levels of ocean knowledge among 15 to 17- year-olds across time and location. The IOLS includes multiple choice questions addressing the ideas about the ocean described by the Ocean Literacy Framework. The IOLS is available in 15 languages, and is freely available for researchers and program evaluators. The development of the IOLS was led by the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Gothenburg, and included 26 partner organizations around the world.
Ocean & Society Survey (OSS)
The Ocean & Society Survey is a collaborative research tool designed to answer two key questions:
How do people around the world connect with and value the ocean?
What influences peoples' interests and concerns about the ocean, and their willingness and capacity to take action for the ocean?
By understanding the connections between people and the ocean, we can better identify what motivates peoples' behaviour, what helps them take action, and what might get in the way. Led by the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition, the OSS is part of the larger effort to address Challenge 10 of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), which is focused on restoring society’s relationship with the ocean. The survey is designed to support the interests of a wide range of users – whether ocean researchers, communicators, educators, and/or policymakers. Learn more today.