Biography Research and Adult Education in German : Development, Concept and Idea of Affinity (Wahlverwandtschaft)

Abstract

One of the characteristics of adult education in the German is that there are many biography studies. Of course, understanding the life of an adult learner is an essential process for adult education, but the process of life through the biography of an adult is also a process of adult learning. It is also important to note that there is a biography research division at the German Educational Society. Biography research has been recognized as an important qualitative research methodology in social sciences. In the early days, the interest in the career of the external life gradually expanded to an interest in the formation of the subjective life. However, in addition to discussions in social sciences, biography research has expanded the scope of history research, psychology research, anthropology research, and literary research. In Germany, biography research has evolved through the discovery of research methodologies that have found concrete interview techniques. The reason why humanities and social sciences pay attention to biography research is because it can reveal the process of informal learning of subject through biography research and adult education research. And adult education can also complement the life story as part of adult learning as an independent learner, rather than as a school education for adults.