Transformational learning as presented by Jack Mezirow has been critiqued for its Western, rational, and cognitive orientation. This qualitative study was conducted in the African nation of Botswana and examines how that culture shaped the process. In-depth interviews were held with 12 adults who acknowledged having an experience that had profoundly changed their view of themselves and/or their perspectives on the world. Spirituality and the metaphysical world, community responsibilities and relationships, and gender roles are 3 culturally specific factors embedded in how participants constructed the meaning of their experience; these factors are also evident in their changed perspective.
Asante, M.K. (1987). The Afrocentric idea. Philadelphia : University Press.
2.
Avoseh, M.B.M. (2001). Learning to be active citizens: Lessons of traditional Africa for lifelong learning. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 20(6), 479-486.
3.
Carter, T.J. (2002). The importance of talk to midcareer women's development: A collaborative inquiry. Journal of Business Communication , 39, 55-91.
4.
Clark, C.M. (1993). Transformational learning. In S. B. Merriam (Ed.), An update on adult learning theory. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, No. 57 (pp. 47-56). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
5.
Clark, C.M., & Wilson, A. (1991). Context and rationality in Mezirow's theory of perspective transformational learning. Adult Education Quarterly , 40, 75-91.
6.
Creswell, J.W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
7.
Diouf, W., Sheckley, B.G., & Kehrhahn, M. (2000). Adult learning in a non-Western context: The influence of culture in a Senegalese farming village. Adult Education Quarterly, 51(1), 32-44.
8.
Hanson, A. (1996). The search for a separate theory of adult learning: Does anyone really need andragogy? In R. Edwards , A. Hanson, & P. Raggatt (Eds.), Boundaries of adult learning (pp. 99-108). New York: Routledge.
9.
Jarvis, C. (1999). Love changes everything: The transformative potential of popular romantic fiction. Studies in the Education of Adults , 31(2), 109-123.
10.
Kilgore, D., & Bloom, L.R. (2002). "When I'm down, it takes me awhile": Rethinking transformational education through narratives of women in crisis. Adult Basic Education, 12, 123-133.
11.
Kroth, M., & Boverie, P. (2000). Life mission and adult learning. Adult Education Quarterly, 50, 5-23.
12.
Lyons, C.R. (2001). Hear our stories: Relationships and transformations of women educators who worked overseas. Studies in the Education of Adults, 33, 118-126.
13.
Merriam, S.B., & Associates (2002). Qualitative research in practice . San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
14.
Merriam, S.B., & Mohamad, M. (2000). How cultural values shape learning in older adulthood: The case of Malaysia. Adult Education Quarterly, 51(1), 45-63.
15.
Mezirow, J. (1990). How critical reflection triggers transformative learning. In J. Mezirow & Associates, Fostering critical reflection in adulthood: A guide to transformative and emancipatory learning (pp. 1-20). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
16.
Mezirow, J. (1991). Transformative dimensions of adult learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
17.
Mezirow, J. (1995). Transformation theory of adult learning. In M. R. Welton (Ed.), In defense of the lifeworld (pp. 39-70). New York: State University of New York Press.
18.
Mezirow, J. (2000). Learning to think like an adult: Core concepts of transformation theory. In J. Mezirow & Associates, Learning as transformation (pp. 3-33). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
19.
Mkabela, Q. (2005). Using Afrocentric method in researching indigenous African culture. Qualitative Report, 10(1), 178-189.
20.
Ntseane, P.G. (2005). Indigenous people and learning, the case of African Indigenous Education. In R. J. Hill & R. Kiely (Eds.), Proceedings of the 46th Annual Adult Education Research Conference (AERC-2005) (pp. 469-476). Athens, GA: University of Georgia.
21.
Pope, S.M. (1996). Wanting to be something more: Transformations in ethnically diverse working class women through the process of education . Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Fielding Institute , Los Angeles.
22.
Preece, J. (2004). Education for transformational leadership in Southern Africa. Paper presented at the regional conference on Leadership Development Program: LeaRN, Gaborone, Botswana .
23.
Strauss, A.L., & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
24.
Taylor, E.W. (1997). Building upon the theoretical debate: A critical review of the empirical studies of Mezirow's transformative learning theory . Adult Education Quarterly, 48, 32-57.
25.
Taylor, E.W. (2000). Analyzing research on transformative learning theory. In J. Mezirow & Associates (Eds.), Learning as transformation (pp. 285-328). San Francisco : Jossey-Bass.
26.
Taylor, E.W. (2003). Looking back five years: A critical review of transformative learning theory. In C. A. Wiessner , S. R. Meyer, N. L. Pfhal, & P. G. Neaman (Eds.), Proceedings of the fifth international conference on transformative learning (pp. 396-402). New York: Teachers College, Columbia University.
27.
Taylor, E.W. (2007). An update of transformative learning theory: A critical review of the empirical research. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 26(2), 173-191.
28.
Tisdell, E.J. (2003). Exploring spirituality and culture in adult and higher education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
