Showing papers in "Adult Education Quarterly in 1993"
TL;DR: The authors argue that reframing the concept of self-direction as an inherently political idea comprises an important strategic opening in building a critical practice of adult education, instead of focusing on individual empowerment.
Abstract: This paper argues that reframing the concept of self-direction as an inherently political idea comprises an important strategic opening in building a critical practice of adult education. Instead o...
206 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors attempted to find out whether Tinto's student departure model, in particular the concepts of academic and social integration, can explain retention among nontraditional students.
Abstract: While Tinto's student departure model has been tested and supported in numerous studies, it has not yet been applied to nontraditional students. This study attempted to find out whether Tinto's model, in particular the concepts of academic and social integration, can explain retention among nontraditional students. Attrition rates of 25 adult learner classes in a college of management and business were calculated. Four independent variables were entered into a regression equation in an attempt to explain attrition from these classes. They were: social, academic, and career integration; and the size of each class. The data showed that classes that were socially integrated and smaller were better able to retain their students than the less socially integrated and larger-sized classes. The data suggest that what keeps adult learners in educational programs is the social environment in which the learning takes place.
164 citations
TL;DR: This paper argued that the new social movements are particularly privileged sites for emancipatory praxis and argued that old social movements were differiated from new, and new social movement are interpreted primarily as defenses of the threatened lifeworld and ecosystem.
Abstract: This paper argues that the new social movements are particularly privileged sites for emancipatory praxis. Old social movements are differientiated from new, and the new social movements are interpreted primarily as defenses of the threatened lifeworld and ecosystem. The specific nature of the learning challenges within particular movements is examined. The author hypothesizes that diverse movements may be crystallizing into a new historic movement.
135 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a qualitative comparative case study was guided by a feminist-materialist theoretical framework, and examined how power relationships predominantly based on gender but including race, class, and age were manifested in higher education classrooms of adult students.
Abstract: This qualitative comparative case study was guided by a feminist-materialist theoretical framework, and examined how power relationships predominantly based on gender but including race, class, and age were manifested in higher education classrooms of adult students. Two master's level counseling classes were chosen for the study, one was taught by a male professor and the other by a femal professor. The predominant means of data collection were audiotaped participant-observations of the classes; interviews and document analysis were additional sources of data. Data were analyzed according to the constant comparative method. Major findings of the study are: (a) students who benefit from interlockng systems of privilege have more power in the classroom; (b) the male professor tended to exert more control than the female professor; and (c) middle-aged women with more education tend to be more participatory, at least in classes where affective forms of knowledge are valued.
119 citations
TL;DR: The way Mezirow (1991a) links the concept of perspective transformation to the process of adult development illustrates a pervasive tension in his work as mentioned in this paper, and it has been pointed out that "Mezirow has been credited w...
Abstract: The way Mezirow (1991a) links the concept of perspective transformation to the process of adult development illustrates a pervasive tension in his work. On the one hand, Mezirow has been credited w...
119 citations
TL;DR: A critical review of the literature on the psychosocial development of women can be found in this paper, where three major themes emerged: diverse and non-linear patterns of development characterized by discontinuities and periods of stability and transition are the norm for women; intimacy and identity are key issues throughout women's lives; and importance of relationships and a sense of connectedness to others are central to women's development.
Abstract: The purpose of this critical review of the literature is threefold: (a) to provide an in-depth description of the literature on the psychosocial development of women; (b) to assess the extent to which alternative developmental models for women have emerged; and (c) to critique the soundness of the research and suggest possibilities for future study and practice. Three kinds of studies which address these issues are reviewed: literature in which authors analyzed or conceptualized the psychosocial development of women, empirical investigations of developmental issues with all-female samples, and material which explored possibilities for future research and practice. From this critical review, three major themes emerged: Diverse and non-linear patterns of development characterized by discontinuities and periods of stability and transition are the norm for women; intimacy and identity are key issues throughout women's lives; and importance of relationships and a sense of connectedness to others are central to...
107 citations
TL;DR: In this article, interviews with 74 persons over age 60 for the purpose of gathering information describing their experiences across the older adult lifespan were conducted with 74 individuals over the age of 60.
Abstract: Interviews were conducted with 74 persons over age 60 for the purpose of gathering information describing their experiences across the older adult lifespan. Data were analyzed using a grounded theo...
35 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an argument that university researchers in the field of adult education have relied upon a set of handbooks, which they call "the handbooks of instruction".
Abstract: Using the findings from a study of the adult education handbooks, the purpose of this paper is to present an argument that university researchers in the field of adult education have relied upon a ...
26 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in the adult basic and secondary education setting were examined, and the results indicated no statistically significant differences in achievement, two had mixed results, and two failed to report statistical significance.
Abstract: Computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in the adult basic and secondary education setting continues to attract the attention of researchers attempting to examine its effects compared to traditional methods not including CAI. All of the reviewed studies utilized control (non-CAI) and experimental (CAI) groups, and most examined any differences in reading, math, and/or other areas of achievement for statistical significance. A few investigations examined attitudes towards computers as well as achievement gains. Of 12 studies meeting the criteria for review, six indicated no statistically significant differences in achievement, two had mixed results, one had significance favorable to CAI, one had significance favorable to traditional methods, and two failed to report statistical significance. Implications are discussed.
22 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated adult educators' ethical dilemmas and attitudes regarding the need for a code of ethics to guide their practice, through the use of survey methodology.
Abstract: This study investigated adult educators' ethical dilemmas and attitudes regarding the need for a code of ethics to guide their practice. Through the use of survey methodology, three major groups of...
19 citations
TL;DR: Using the same categories of racism, sexism, and socioeconomic categories employed by Coles, this paper reconstructed the Coles study to determine if hidden curricula still exist and, if so, to what extent.
Abstract: The content of five widely-used ABE reading series was analyzed 13 years ago by Gerald Coles (1977). Coles found racism, sexism, and socioeconomic stereotypes to "abound" in these materials. Using the same categories of racism, sexism, and the socioeconomic categories employed by Coles, this investigation reconstructed the Coles study to determine if hidden curricula still exist and, if so, to what extent. Findings indicate that today's most popular reading texts have improved since 1977, but only slightly. Cultural and political reproduction comprise two of the guiding ideologies for literacy education in the 1990s.
TL;DR: In this article, the assumption that adults enter into opportunities to participate in adult education activities on a voluntary basis is examined, at both the empirical and theoretical levels, and the assumption is questioned.
Abstract: This paper examines the assumption that adults enter into opportunities to participate in adult education activities on a voluntary basis. It explores, at both the empirical and theoretical levels,...