Concepts of felt need, educational experience, program development, and program evaluation are variables significant to the appraisal of adult educational needs. Although the existence of a social problem often indicates that educational needs exist, individual needs are more useful than social problems as a basis for program development. Experts…

Theorizing in adult education has been primarily concerned with questions of social philosophy which contribute little to improving the quality of professional activity. This essay suggests a rationale and strategy for developing a research based body of theory, indigenous to adult education and of practical utility to practitioners. Central to…

This book offers step-by-step guidance on using needs assessment to design high-quality programs in continuing education. The book begins with a definition and description of needs assessment as part of the process of developing a continuing education program. The first of the book's 10 chapters describes the role of needs assessment in…

As part of a 2-year study to plan, develop, and offer relevant continuing education programs for women in Pensacola, a Delphi study was conducted to determine the educational needs and priorities of different types of women living in Pensacola. The Delphi method was selected because it is considered an effective way of eliciting the opinions of a…

Market research, important for professional renewal, is a critical part of continuing education program planning. It includes attention to learning needs and learner motivation to participate in continuing education. Informal market research makes use of internal sources, such as enrollment data, program evaluations, policy statements, and staff…

This issue examines the following topics: comparative adult education (its scientific status and development), adult education research activity in system analysis, the inner structure of the system of adult education, adult education research and recently completed planning work, and the contents of adult education research in West Germany,…

Presents general systems models (ballistic system, guided system, and adaptive system) and an evaluation matrix to help in examining training evaluation alternatives and in deciding what evaluation is appropriate. Includes some guidelines for conducting evaluation studies using four designs (control group, reversal, multiple baseline, and…

A survey instrument developed in 1991 by the Massachusetts Job Council to ascertain basic information regarding funds spent on job training and to provide state policymakers with information about those being served and what services are being provided was used as a model to develop a program assessment instrument. The program assessment…

Results are reported of a study made in Washington State to (1) discover educational constraints of the elderly, (2) identify the scope of educational opportunities and planning by community colleges, and (3) assess on-going programs. Questionnaires and interviews were utilized to obtain opinions of and data about urban and rural elderly citizens…

In an extensive review of research on participation in adult education, the author discusses limitations and problems in past studies. If lifelong learning principles are to be adopted worldwide, he suggests that participation data be systematically collected and experimental research be rigorously conducted. (SK)

A North Carolina study attempted to evolve and test a futures planning methodology and generate useful program planning data to help meet the needs of adult part-time students. Using a variation of the Focus Delphi process, the study focused on the following question: considering the existing resources of higher and adult education in North…

The report on developing community services identifies effective alternative administrative structures and funding patterns which have enabled or could enable Title I efforts in the State of California to be expanded, continued, or adopted when Title I funding to institutions is diminished or terminated. The first of the report's six chapters is…

Prepared to introduce adult education program planners to the basic concepts integral to and alternative strategies for conducting needs assessments, this instructional handbook consists of a series of six chapters or instructional booklets (also available separately--see note.) Topics covered in each chapter are as follows: introduction to needs…

These proceedings consist of the following presentations and discussion papers: "Extension Research Needs in Evalaution" (Michael Patton); "Needed Research in Program Development" (Roger Lawrence); "The Cooperative Extension Service: A National Assessment" (Paul Warner); "National Study of Extension's Research…