The purpose of this study was to determine the educational needs and interests of selected older persons in Hillsborough County, Florida. Specifically, the study identified those needs that could be met by Hillsborough Community College. A sample of subjects age 55 and over was drawn from three settings in the community where older persons tend to gather: two recreation center groups, two residential complexes, and 18 continuing adult education classes conducted by the public schools. The data from these older persons were collected through the use of a questionnaire. / When examining the group as a whole, Cultural Enrichment, Hobbies, Health and Medical Problems, and Recreation, were the most frequently indicated choices of learning experiences. The three subgroups were also analyzed in order to determine if there was any relationship between the type of setting in which the data were collected and the desired learning experiences chosen by the respondents. Although there were some slight differences between the subgroups, the three settings showed similar needs and interests. Once the general desired learning experiences were determined, further analyses were completed in order to determine if there was any statistically significant relationship between the demographic characteristics of the population and the type of desired learning experiences that were selected. The most meaningful demographic variables found in the study were ethnicity, health, income, and education. These variables were significant in the selection of Cultural Enrichment, the most frequently indicated choice of learning experience. / The choices of desired learning experiences of recent participants in some type of educational class were then compared with those who had not participated. Two of the most frequently chosen desired learning experiences--Cultural Enrichment and Hobbies--were chosen significantly more frequently by the recent participants. Finally, the limiting factors to participating in learning experiences, as perceived by the older person, were: lack of transportation, distance of class, grading, and time of class. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-06, Section: A, page: 2526. / Thesis (Educat.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74506 |
| Contributors | HAWKINS, CYNTHIA DULABAHN., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 128 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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