Interests as a Component of Adult Course Preferences: Four Australian Case Studies

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Author(s): James A. Athanasou (University of Technology, Australia)
Copyright: 2014
Pages: 9
Source title: Adult and Continuing Education: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Information Resources Management Association (USA)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-5780-9.ch090

Keywords: Adult Learning / Education / Higher Education / Information Science Reference

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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the subliminal role of interest in preferences for 50 courses available at a community college. This is an idiographic study of educational decisions. It employed a sample of situations and a representative design. Four adults participated in an educational-vocational assessment and in the process of providing vocational guidance their course selection was examined using a logistic regression. The intra-rater consistency of choices ranged from 88%-100% for repeated course profiles. Choices varied from 2-11 courses. Results supported a minor role for vocational interest in these course choices. The overall R-squared values were around .281-.764. It was concluded that (a) adult choices did not rely exclusively upon interests; (b) adults used complex decision-making policies; and (c) the policies adopted were idiosyncratic.

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Interests as a Component of Adult Course Preferences: Four Australian Case Studies

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