Learning in Adulthood: A Comprehensive Guide » (3rd Edition)

SHARAN B. MERRIAM is professor of adult education at the University of Georgia, Athens. Her research and writing focus on the foundations of the adult education field, on adult development and learning, and on qualitative research methods. An acclaimed scholar in her field, she has served as author, coauthor, or editor of seventeen books and was coeditor of Adult Education Quarterly for five years. ROSEMARY S. CAFFARELLA is a professor in the Division of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Northern Colorado. A preeminent authority on adult learning and development, training, and program development, Caffarella is author or coauthor of five books on adult and continuing education.

An updated synthesis of what we know about adult learning—its context, participants, major theoretical developments, and more. The authors reveal how sociocultural influences can create specific developmental needs and interests, and how race, class, and gender can shape learning. From this background, they construct a more inclusive perspective on adult learning, guiding readers toward new ways of thinking about teaching, learning, and the social implications of adult education.