First, gerontology is a life course perspective that evaluates aging outcomes as the cumulative effect of individual characteristics (socioeconomic status, personality, health behaviors) and where the person lives (i.e., human ecosystems), including the historical context in which they reside. Second, gerontology examines factors that contribute…

Purpose: Instructional leadership has been an active area of educational administration research over the past 30 years. However, there has been significant divergence in how instructional leadership has been conceptualized over time. The purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive review of 25 years of quantitative instructional…

Major theories of adult development and learning environment are presented, with criteria for assessing institutional response to adult learners. Two major needs are discussed: an approach to adult learning that is integrated within programs or throughout institutions, and going beyond providing a proper environment to providing skills and…

The reflective judgment (RJ) model is described, along with research findings based on the model and contributions to understanding student intellectual development in higher education. The RJ model (Kitchener & King, 1981) describes a series of changes that occur in the ways adults/young adults understand the process of knowing, and…

A literature review examined the research concerning adult development and graduate education. An initial literature review indicated that little research had been done. Three critiques were developed concerning the literature in adult development: dispersion of adult research literature throughout various disciplines, concentratlon on adult…

A study used the Educational Resources and Information Center (ERIC) database as a resource for journal articles on adult education and women since 1971 to examine the recent effort at including inquiry on women and gender in the adult education literature. Once the ERIC database was searched and analyzed for possible trends, a random sample of…

Combining community participation in decision making with methods of social investigation, participatory research focuses on involvement of the subjects of the research in the research process. Adult educators are exploring this research method which, unlike quantitative research, serves the needs of individuals and not those of policy makers who…

Reviews current findings of empirical research on older adult learning, notes key differences in how older adults and young people learn, and suggests strategies that could be used to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of instruction designed for the elderly. (33 references) (Author/LRW)

It is time for the teacher education profession to take more systematic steps for the advancement of theory, research, and practice in the teacher education field. A cognitive-developmental perspective on teacher education curriculum avoids the choice between cognitive and affective goals by providing a dual focus on highly specific behavioral…

This literature review examines 12 current works dealing with converting basic research on adult learning, adult development, adult education, instructional methods, and learning theory to practical application in the training of trainers. Focus of the review is on translating principles from scientific language to language more suitable to…

This report focuses on the research aspects of the Equipped for the Future (EFF) project that works toward system reform for adult literacy and lifelong learning. Section 1 describes the EFF process 1993-97, the impetus for EFF, and approaches to system reform. Section 2 explores the research processes EFF uses to build a framework that could…

The action principles and concepts developed in the field of adult education may be generalized to include the practice of continuing medical education. A review of learning theory and research reveals that adult learning varies along four dimensions: (1) ability to accept new information and adopt new practices; (2) approach to learning; (3) ways…

The literature on adult learners is reviewed, and two models of adult learning are developed. Demographic, social, and technological trends that stimulate the increasing demand for learning opportunities are examined, and the views of those who see dangers in new pressures on adults to participate in organized learning activities are considered.…

A study explored how adults perceived program learning; whether program learning helped them enact a particular social role; and whether they changed while participating in the program. For a year or more, researchers studied experiences of learning and change of 41 adult learners enrolled in three programs--at a community college, family literacy…

Eleven papers on theory and research in higher education have the following titles and authors: "A Paradigm for Research on Higher Education" (William F. Massy); "Minority Student Access to, and Persistence and Performance in College: A Review of the Trends and Research Literature" (Shirley L. Mow and Michael T. Nettles);…