Reasons for Nonparticipation In Adult Basic Education

Abstract

This research sought to determine reasons for nonparticipation in adult basic education (ABE), whether there was an underlying structure to those reasons, and whether sociodemographic variables were associated with reasons for nonparticipation. The study was conducted on a representative sample of Iowa adults (N= 129) who were aged eighteen or older, had not completed high school, and had never attended ABE. Data were collected through a telephone survey which had three parts: corroboration of eligibility for the study, sociodemographic information and 32 items which operationalized the concept "reasons for nonparticipation." Factor analysis of the 32 items resulted in four interpretable factors: Low Perception of Need, Perceived Effort, Dislike for School, and Situational Barriers. Low perception of Need correlated positively with age, and Situational Barriers was shown to be related to adult mid-life.