As the population of older adults increases, the field of adult education needs to respond accordingly. The study reported in this paper examined motivations for learning among older adults actively engaged in formal lifelong learning. One hundred eighty-nine members of a Learning in Retirement institute were surveyed using Boshier's Education…

The methodology employed in fourteen motivational orientation studies is reviewed. All studies used either the Education Participation Scale, the Continuing Learning Orientation Index, or the Reasons for Educational Participation Scale. Issues discussed concern factor scoring, factor analysis, rotation, scaling, reliability, and the extent to…

In Western countries, women and men, young and old, enroll in adult education for different reasons. This is even more the case in China. This study helps Shanghai program planners better appreciate learners by understanding how motivational orientations vary as a function of gender and age. The Chinese version of the Education Participation Scale…