This paper explores the role of imagination on art and design educators who undertake autoethnographic research in adult community learning (ACL) in the UK. ACL in the UK comprises community-based learning opportunities delivered by local authorities and general further education colleges (Department for Education [DfE] 2019) and provides…

This study examines the prevalence and quality of mixed methods research (MMR) in educational journals, highlighting its growing acceptance yet emphasizing the need for enhanced methodological rigor. Although MMR has become popular across education sub-disciplines, its specific use in educational research is underexplored. This study aims to…

There is increasing interest in research-based education in the Western World as it is assumed to strengthen school improvement capacity. Previous research shows that school principals play a pivotal role in realising such vision. The aim of this article is to explore the influence of principals on research-based education in their local municipal…

The paper responds to the need for understanding trends and gaps in extant research related to adult education in mathematics and numeracy, given changing skill demands and skill gaps regarding adults, and related policy, theorizing, and practice trends. This paper presents the results of a scoping review of recent empirical research related to…

Literature reviews map the research landscape in a topic area, identify gaps that new research can address, or frame a future research project. Literature reviews inform research and are integral to developing evidence-based policies. In adult education, systematic, critical, integrative, and historical reviews have been conducted. Scoping…

This paper presents a scoping review of relevant literature to characterise research on education in prisons. After reviewing 353 peer-reviewed articles spanning 10 years of research, we conclude that research on education in prisons in global research databases (i) is dominated by qualitative studies, (ii) is primarily focused on the…

The purpose of this article is to introduce a design-based research (DBR) approach developed in the field of vocational and continuing education, which is grounded in a pragmatic and phenomenologically inspired enactivist approach to activity. As a design-based methodology, our activity-centered and enactive DBR approach aims to generate knowledge…

This systematic literature review explores the ethical considerations and challenges instructional designers face when integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the instructional design process for adult learners. Using the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework to examine the relationship of ethics, pedagogy, and…

Purpose: The psychological theory of self-determination postulated that gamification enhances learning engagement by intrinsically motivating learners to undertake tasks spontaneously. Gamification has then been integrated into adult learning as part of the initiative of learner-centred pedagogies to curb the low retention rates of adult learners…

There is a dearth of knowledge regarding how self-directed learning and inclusion relate as concepts. In this paper, we explore how self-directed learning and inclusion are discussed together in the educational literature. With the aim of advancing our conceptual and theoretical understanding in this regard, we present the findings of a systematic…

Given the importance of their roles in society, the education of professionals is a central concern for providers and recipients of public services. In this article we consider the contribution of research on professional learning to current debate on the form and content of professional education. This mapping review asked, 'What does the…

Along with the rapidly changing social and economic context accompanied by COVID-19, concerns have been raised for the less-educated, low-wage workers who disproportionately experienced disadvantages in accessing workplace learning or training opportunities essential for job placement or career development. In response to the challenges of…

Interlocking systems of oppression are embedded and embodied in the world. Utilizing intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989; 1991) as a framework and perspective to interrogate oppressive systems, intersectional research (IR) has been produced across adult education (AE) journals. IR articles published in AE journals were reviewed using diffractive…

Anti-Black racism can be difficult to discuss in English language teaching because teachers often feel unprepared. This article describes our experiences as researchers and educators from a duoethnographic self-study to understanding the possibilities of addressing social justice issues in an adult English as a second language (ESL) classroom.…

This research is a narrative critical literature review of the use of the PsyCap (psychological capital) model to study online university students' learning experiences in order to understand their persistence. PsyCap (Hope, Efficacy, Resilience and Optimism, abbreviated as HERO) has been proven an effective model of understanding the intrinsic…