Understanding the Decision to Participate in Formal Adult Education

Abstract

This study's purpose was to gain a better understanding of the decision to participate in formal adult education. To this end, a sample of individuals who were motivated to attend adult education courses was surveyed. Some were participants in continuing adult education courses at an urban university and others were individuals who called the adult education program at the same university but never enrolled in a course. The objective of this study was to uncover differences between these motivated populations. A comprehensive model including motives and deterrents was employed as the study framework. A logistic regression was used to determine what factors do the best at differentiating between the two groups. Contrary to some previous studies, if major changes occurred in the individuals' lives, they were less likely to enroll. Knowledge for its own sake and meeting new people were found to be weak motivational factors, which increase the odds of nonparticipation. Cost, as other studies point out, is a major deterrent. Social and institutional factors as well as the availability of substitutes to meet individual needs appear to influence the decision to participate.