Introduction This literature review will look at the educational contributions in adult education, compares qualitative research to quantitative research, describes the "war" between supporters of each kind of research, describes how to review qualitative research, and give details on how to choose and use qualitative techniques. The history, strengths and weakness of using qualitative research in adult education will also be covered in this literature review. Most of this literature review will discuss how important the Qualitative research will contribute and inform adult educators about it main purpose for using it. Qualitative researchers seriously consider qualitative research articles will be a familiar learning objective for starting methodology courses. The learning activity in adult education will allows adults to become acquainted with the outline of qualitative research reports in order to identify the key parts of a qualitative research article and to judge the quality of author’s representations of method findings. The major literature portion of this research explains a variety of qualitative research methods and how they can be used in adult, career, and career-technical education. There have been many studies published about the inputs of qualitative research to adult education advances.
History of Qualitative Research to Adult Education The education and knowledge of qualitative research has developed over the previous thirty years and
Knowles, M., Holton, E. F., & Swanson, R. A. (2005). The adult learner: The definitive classic in adult education and human resource development (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Elseveir.
The Adult Learning Theory is based on understanding how adults learn and how they respond to the program in general. Researchers have found three key methods on how adults learn: experiential learning, transformational learning, and non-Western and Indigenous ways of knowing and learning (CITE). In Experiential Learning, adults learn through the experiences they have lived. Transformational Learning, on the other hand, is a “process in which adult learners question their own lives and how they interact with the world in which they live in” (CITE). Thus meaning that adults learn through situations that challenge their own thoughts about something and makes them reevaluate their original thought process. Lastly, Non-Western and Indigenous ways of knowing and learning is a bit complicated in adult learning as it is hard to find ways to categorize it. Despite the difficulty, there are four reoccurring themes in Non-Western and Indigenous learning: Communal nature of learning, the oneness of learners with the natural world, the oral tradition of learning, and knowledge as holistic (CITE). Further elaboration on this type of adult learning reflects on understanding cultural differences and the value of
Qualitative method is using open-ended questioning, non-statistical research techniques, or value-based observations. In this research, three main methodologies are adopted as focus group, distributing questionnaires and conducting personal interviews simultaneously. Methods are all appropriate and contributed to a comprehensive research. The reason is that aim of this research is to acquire an in-depth understanding of
It is common for adults to continue learning after completing secondary education. Whether it is work related, self-improvement, or newfound interest in a particular area, continuation of learning and education are common experience for most adults. There are courses and training facilities widely available for adults, however is not immediately apparent how the educational experience can best be organized and delivered to the adult learner. Adult learning has been described as a separate entity to the tradition
This paper is about adult learning theories. The learning theory andragogy was discussed in detail. Also, the author talked about how people structure their own learning theories. What typical views and reports for adult learning were conversed there were also views and discussions from the view of adult learner. Article stated the pressure and concerns of students who go back to school as an adult years later in comparison to going straight out of high school.
Adult learning is having a clear picture of how adults learn and how this in turn affects the program planning process. Many adults are not sure about what they want to do with their lives after high school. There are many programs that will help you to decided, what you want to do with your life. This is where adult education programs can help you decided on the importance of education. There are three content areas that connects with adult learning and planning education within the adult. Knowles state that the adult learner, learns from their experiences. Experiences is how adults live their everyday lives and make concise
ABSTRACT In this qualitative research study, we sought to better understand the experiences of adult learners in adult education centers. We conducted eight focus groups with 104 adult education students from 25 adult learning centers. Five groups were made up of English-speaking ABE students; learners in the three ESL groups spoke Spanish. We used an iterative content analysis method. Strategic Analysis of Representations Approach (SARA), to explore data gathered from the tocus groups. Six themes emerged:
Adult students are simply people over the age of 25, who have elected to return to port-secondary education. They differentiate from your typical students in the facts that adult students, all things considered, have increased life responsibilities and face unique challenges. This research project explores the negatives, the positives what adult students face when returning to post-secondary education, and certain solutions. I analyzed recent research that deals with adult education and I included those results along with the results from a study I conducted in 2016, part two of this paper explains in detail the research I preformed.
Qualitative research reflects different ways that researcher’s collect data and explore all of the information through literature review. Participant’s that are reviewing is often observed for analysis while “the role of the researcher focuses as the primary data collection instrument necessitates the identification of personal values, assumptions and biases at the outset of the study; Qualitative researchers ask at least one central question” (Creswell, 2014, which can be explored in several contexts with further questions. According to the text Research Design (2014) “the researcher’s role is typically involved in a
The evidence of Qualitative Data Collection assignment provided an evaluation of evidence-based decision making to create new practices that is based on data collection gained from questionnaires, observations, and interviews that will validated the creation of new practices. Questionnaires for the interview process was used to generate data about the change process and about intervention. The information gleaned from the interview process and observation process will be used to tell the story of action research that can be utilized to bring about the change process. The data gathered from these sources will provide an evaluation that can be used to bring about the change process that will allow new practices to be created that pertains to adult learning.
Today's workers need to prepare with continuous job training, growth and development. Given the increased age, experiences and diverse lifestyles of the working population, it is understandable that adult education practices must move beyond the traditional model of teachers and learners, while new skills, working with local companies to match their needs and sending staff into factories and other workplaces to spread the word about state and federal retraining assistance. While trying to decide how to rebuild your life after loss of employment and lack of job opportunities following the current recession, or devastated from a divorce? Adult students faced with other struggles; studies have shown that older adult students face different hurdles, family problems, and poor self-image. These along with poor time management, weaker academic preparation and a need for remediation an increased focus on adult learners and their needs can help. (armour)
Life is so busy these days that sometimes we don’t stop to think how we got to this point or realize some of those key factors that played a role. I think it is fair to say that most people take a lot of things for granted but when you pause and analyze life’s events it can be an eye opener and really get you thinking about how certain career decisions have created a pathway for your career and at life-space. Gets a little scary when you think back on how one or two decisions could have really swayed your career. I think we can all think back to an event in our adult development
S. et al (1984) Andragogy in Action. Applying modern principles of adult education, San Francisco: Jossey Bass. A collection of chapters examining different aspects of Knowles’ formulation
My impression of adult education has changed immensely. First and foremost, the first lesson learned that teaching adults are a separate, intensive, and long debated process. Portions of certain theories learned illustrated below. I have extended knowledge about Meizrow (Transformational Learning) and Knowles (Andragogy). The six key features of Adult Learners are:
When utilizing a qualitative approach, the task becomes one of determining the qualitative method to be used. Additionally, Stake (2010) used purpose, research design, and methodical data techniques as a way of classifying types of qualitative research. Similarly, Cresswell & Cresswell (2007) spoke of five practices of qualitative research. These five practices consist of biography, phenomenological study, grounded theory study, ethnography, and case study. This researcher chose a phenomenological study for this research project.