Reasons for Adult Participation in Group Educational Activities

Abstract

Additional information on why adults participate in educational activities appears to be necessary if the field of adult education is to continue to improve educational offerings. Consequently, this study was designed and conducted to explore further the total framework of educational orientations as developed by Cyril O. Houle, Professor of Education at The University of Chicago.

The results reported here were to test the hypothesis that reasons chosen by men and women for participating in educational activi ties will factor into eight groups. To test the hypothesis, 1,046 adult learners responded to an instrument developed by the author—Reasons for Educational Participation. The results were factor analyzed and seven groups of reasons were identified. Based on the nature of the items comprising each, the factors were named:

The Desire to Know;

The Desire to Reach a Personal Goal;

The Desire to Reach a Social Goal;

The Desire to Reach a Religious Goal;

The Desire to Escape;

The Desire to Take Part in an Activity; and

The Desire to Comply with Formal Requirements.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Boshier, Roger , "Motivational Orientations of Adult Education Participants : A Factor Analytic Exploration of Houle's Typology," Adult Education, XXI (1971), pp. 3-26.

Deane, Stephens R. , "A Psychological Description of Adults Who have Participated in Educational Activities" (Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Graduate School, University of Maryland, 1949), p. 39.

Johnstone, J.W.C. and Rivera, R.J. , Volunteers for Learning (Chicago: Aldine Publishing Company, 1965).

Jones, Kenneth J. , "The Multivariate Statistical Analyzer," Harvard Co-op, 1964. (Mimeographed.)

Hall, Cleo H. , "Why Illinois Women Participate in Home Economics Extension Club Programs " (Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Department of Education, The University of Chicago, December, 1965).

Harman, Harry H. , Modern Factor Analysis (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1967).

Houle, Cyril O. , The Inquiring Mind ( Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1961).

Houle, Cyril O. , The Education of Adults, Chapters X and XI ( Forthcoming. )

Hoy, Joseph Denzil , "An Enquiry as to Interests and Motives for Study Among Adult Evening Students," British Journal of Educational Psychology, III, Part I ( February, 1933).

10.

Knowles, Malcolm S. , The Adult Education Movement in the United States (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1962), p. 251.

11.

Litchfield, Ann , "The Measurement and Pattern of Participation in Adult Education Activities" (Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Department of Education, The University of Chicago, 1965 ), p. 124.

12.

Nicholson, David Hull , "Why Adults Attend School: An Analysis of Motivating Factors," University of Missouri Bulletin ( September, 1955).

13.

Sheffield, Sherman B. , "The Orientations of Adult Continuing Learners " (Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Department of Education, The University of Chicago, 1962).

14.

The Association of University Evening Colleges and National University Extension Association , Enrollment Statistics and Subject Categories for 1964-65, ed. Howell McGee ; Submitted by the joint AUEC-NUEA Committee on Minimum Date and Definitions (n.p., n.d.), p. 14.

15.

Wanderer, Jules J. , "Great Decision Survey, 1961," A Study Report for the Bureau of Sociological Research, supported by the Bureau of Class Instruction, Extension Division, University of Colorado , pp. 77-84. (Mimeographed.)

16.

Williams, W.E. and Heath, A.E. , Live and Learn (London : Methuen and Co., Ltd.. 1936), pp. 24-33.

17.

Woodward, Marthine V. , Statistic of Public School Adult Education, 1958-59 (U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Circular No. 660 ; Washington, D. C.: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1961), p. 13.