Researching the benefits of learning: the persuasive power of longitudinal studies

Recent years have witnessed considerable growth of research on the benefits of adult learning. Much of this is UK-based, and draws on evidence from large scale longitudinal data sets. Overwhelmingly, these studies have found clear evidence of economic, social and individual benefits as a result of...

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Main Author: John Field
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: UCL Press 2011-10-01
Series:London Review of Education
Online Access:https://uclpress.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.1080/14748460.2011.616320
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author John Field
author_facet John Field
author_sort John Field
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description Recent years have witnessed considerable growth of research on the benefits of adult learning. Much of this is UK-based, and draws on evidence from large scale longitudinal data sets. Overwhelmingly, these studies have found clear evidence of economic, social and individual benefits as a result of participating in adult learning. While these claims are important and influential ones, there has to date been little discussion of the nature of the data and analytical techniques being used. Nor has there been sufficient attention to the possibility that learning may have negative outcomes. The paper identifies and explores some limitations of longitudinal research in the study of adult learning, but concludes that despite the problems, this body of work still represents an important departure in the field, with considerable international significance.
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spelling doaj.art-76af906900f84e5c871a0d13e10bfd7f2023-02-23T11:04:56ZengUCL PressLondon Review of Education1474-84601474-84792011-10-01928329210.1080/14748460.2011.616320Researching the benefits of learning: the persuasive power of longitudinal studiesJohn FieldRecent years have witnessed considerable growth of research on the benefits of adult learning. Much of this is UK-based, and draws on evidence from large scale longitudinal data sets. Overwhelmingly, these studies have found clear evidence of economic, social and individual benefits as a result of participating in adult learning. While these claims are important and influential ones, there has to date been little discussion of the nature of the data and analytical techniques being used. Nor has there been sufficient attention to the possibility that learning may have negative outcomes. The paper identifies and explores some limitations of longitudinal research in the study of adult learning, but concludes that despite the problems, this body of work still represents an important departure in the field, with considerable international significance.https://uclpress.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.1080/14748460.2011.616320
spellingShingle John Field
Researching the benefits of learning: the persuasive power of longitudinal studies
London Review of Education
title Researching the benefits of learning: the persuasive power of longitudinal studies
title_full Researching the benefits of learning: the persuasive power of longitudinal studies
title_fullStr Researching the benefits of learning: the persuasive power of longitudinal studies
title_full_unstemmed Researching the benefits of learning: the persuasive power of longitudinal studies
title_short Researching the benefits of learning: the persuasive power of longitudinal studies
title_sort researching the benefits of learning the persuasive power of longitudinal studies
url https://uclpress.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.1080/14748460.2011.616320
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