ADULT LEARNING

Adult learning

Table of contents

Adult learning4

Question 1:4

1.1: Quantitative research4

1.2:Descriptive research6

1.2.1: Experimental research8

1.2.3: Strengths of experimental research9

1.3: A Mixed Research11

1.4: Strengths and Weaknesses of Qualitative Research16

1.4.1: Strengths16

1.4.2: Weaknesses17

1.5: Strengths and Weaknesses of Mix Research18

1.5.1: Strengths18

1.5.2: Weaknesses19

1.6: Strengths and Weaknesses of Quantitative Research20

1.6.1: Strengths20

1.6.2: Weaknesses21

1.7: Research Question22

Question 2:22

2.1: Transformative Learning in Adulthood22

2.2: Mezirow and Transformative Learning23

2.2.1: Another Perspective26

2.3: Transformative Learning in Practice28

2.4: Variables Affecting Adult Learning31

2.4.1: Toolkit for Facilitators of Adult Learning32

2.5: Professional development34

2.5: Transformative learning theory34

2.7: Roles of the Instructor and Student in Transformational Learning36

2.8: Environments and Activities which Promote Transformational Learning37

2.9: The Weaknesses; The Barriers, and The Ethics in Transformational Learning40

2.10: The strengths of Transformational learning in Adult learning Environment41

Question 3:49

3.1: Andragogy49

3.2: Principles50

3.3: Advantages/Strengths51

3.4: Disadvantages/Weaknesses51

3.5: Self-Directed Learning52

3.6: What is self-directed learning?53

3.7: The benefits of self-directed learning55

3.8: What can teachers do to support self-directed learning?56

3.9: For the teacher (the facilitator of learning)59

3.10: Developing Self-Directed learners61

3.11: Self-Directed Learning and Teacher-Directed Learning: A comparison64

3.12: Effectively Facilitate Self-Directed Learning69

3.13: Best Teaching Practices to Effectively Facilitate Self-Directed Learning69

References71

Adult learning

Question 1:

1.1: Quantitative research

This chapter is about mixed research. Mixed research is research in which quantitative and qualitative techniques are mixed in a single study. It is the third foremost research paradigm, supplementing an attractive alternative (when it is appropriate) to quantitative and qualitative research. Proponents of mixed research typically adhere to the compatibility thesis as well as to the philosophy of pragmatism.

The compatibility thesis is the concept that quantitative and qualitative methods are compatible, that is, they can both be used in a single research study.

The philosophy of pragmatism says that researchers should use the approach or blend of approaches that works the best in a genuine world situation.

In short, what works is what is useful and should be used, regardless of any philosophical assumptions, paradigmatic assumptions, or any other kind of assumptions. (Pragmatism was started by the large American philosophers Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, and John Dewey).

Today, proponents of mixed research try to use what is called the basic principle of mixed research.

According to this basic principle, the researcher should use a blend or combination of methods that has complementary strengths and nonoverlapping weaknesses.

To help you in applying this basic principle, we have supplied tables that show the strengths and weaknesses of quantitative research and qualitative research. Here they are for your convenience:

Quantitative research is depicted as the customary scientific approach to research that has its underpinnings in the philosophical paradigm for human investigation renowned as positivism. Research propelled by the positivist custom is a 'systematic and methodological process' (Koch and Harrington, 1998: 884) that places considerable worth on 'rationality, objectivity, prediction and control' A distinguishing characteristic is the collection of numerical facts and numbers that, in turn, can be subjected to statistical analysis. Advocates of the quantitative approach are thus described as objective scientists committed to the discovery of quantifiable information. (Podeschi, 2006)identifies three levels of quantitative research: descriptive, correlational and causal; causal mentioning to trial as a research design.

1.2:Descriptive research

Descriptive research provides an account of the characteristics of individuals, groups or situations ...