The purpose of this study was to identify the philosophical orientations of continuing educators in higher education and to determine the extent of similarities and/or differences between them and the relationships that may exist between selected factors and orientations held. The population and sample for this study were the 300 randomly selected individuals belonging to the 1,100 membership of the Association of Continuing Higher Education. Each of the 300 members of the sample received through the mail a Philosophy of Adult Education Inventory designed by Lorraine Zinn (1983). The inventory was used to obtain data addressing the following four research questions: (1) What proportion of continuing educators has an identifiable philosophy of adult and continuing education? (2) Are there differences among continuing educators in their philosophical orientations? (3) Is there a dominant philosophical orientation of adult and continuing education held by continuing educators? (4) What associations exist, if any, between philosophical orientations held by continuing educators and the following variables: (a) Demographic characteristics (age and sex); (b) Educational background (highest degree held; major field of study in highest degree obtained; graduate study in adult and continuing education); (c) Size of employing institution; and (d) Years of experience as an adult or continuing educator? Null hypotheses were established to provide information relevant to each research question. / For purposes of data analysis, frequencies and percentages were used to compare the responses of the sample population. Chi-square was used to test for significant associations. The .05 alpha level was used as the criterion for the retention of the hypotheses. Contingency coefficients were used to measure the strength of associations between variables. Analysis of data revealed that 88.0% of the continuing educators had an identifiable philosophy. The findings also showed that there were differences among continuing educators in their philosophical orientations and that progressivism was the dominant philosophy. In addition, systematic associations were found to exist between the variables of sex, highest degree obtained, and having undertaken graduate study in adult and continuing education. Recommendations are made for improving practice and for further research through the use of the PAC Inventory. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-09, Section: A, page: 2519. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_75635 |
| Contributors | CARSON, GLORIA WINTA., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 179 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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