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.