[Truncated abstract] This work investigated electron correlation and spin-dependent effects in electron scattering from zinc for incident electron energies from the lowest excitation threshold at 4.003 eV to 50 eV. Experiments were performed using a crossed-beams electron impact spectrometer, which included an unpolarised electron gun, and also a spin-polarised electron gun. The apparatus was tested, and shown to be operating well, by repeating past studies of electron scattering from helium and argon. Emission cross sections for the 4s4p 3P1, 4s4p 1P1, 4s5s 3S1, 4s4d; 5d; 6d 3D1;2;3 and 4s4d; 5d 1D2 states were measured from the respective thresholds to 50 eV. These were compared with Convergent Close-Coupling (CCC) and B-spline R-matrix (BSRM) calculations of the 4s4p 3P1, 4s4p 1P1, 4s5s 3S1, 4s4d 1D2 and 4s4d 3D1;2;3 emission cross sections. There are serious discrepancies between the theories, and between the theories and experiment, which indicates strong continuum coupling and innershell excitation effects in the electron excitation of zinc. The differential elastic scattering signal at scattering angles of 30 , 54 , 90 and 110 was measured for incident electron energies from just below the lowest excitation threshold at 4.003 eV, to the ionisation threshold at 9.394 eV. Some assignments given by Sullivan et al [1] and Zatsarinny and Bartschat [2] were confirmed by the present experiment. An area of disagreement in the literature concerning the nature of a feature observed at the 4s4p 1P1 threshold at 5.796 eV was resolved in favour of Zatsarinny and Bartschat, who assign the feature as a cusp. ... Below the ionisation threshold, the 4s4p 3P1 photon excitation function supports the assignment of the near-4s4p 1P1 threshold feature as a cusp. Some of the overlapping negative-ion resonances which were observed near 7.5 eV in the 4s4p 3P1, 4s4p 1P1 and 4s5s 3S1 photon excitation functions were assigned with the assistance of the BSRM calculations of Zatsarinny and Bartschat. However, continuum coupling effects above 8 eV seem to cause the theoretical negative-ion resonance predictions to break down. Above the ionisation threshold, the near-11 eV negative-ion resonance effects depend on the configuration n, L and S of the neutral state excitation observed. This may be due to the properties of the mixed negative ion component states. Postcollision interaction (PCI) effects the 4s5s 3S1, 4s4d; 5d; 6d 3D1;2;3 and 4s4d; 5d 1D2 photon excitation functions. The PCI mechanism can populate the 4s4d; 5d; 6d 3D1;2;3 and 4s4d; 5d 1D2 states because the scattered and ejected electrons have a similar energy, and can thus exchange a large amount of orbital angular momentum. The present work demonstrates that electron correlation effects, especially those associated with innershell excitation, are very significant in electron scattering from zinc. Existing theoretical models of electron scattering from zinc inadequately treat electron correlations, and as a result of this are inaccurate, as shown here. The studies presented here should guide the development of models that accurately describe the innershell excitation effects, which are important for zinc and a great many other atoms.