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'What We Came For': Adult Learner Perspectives on Goals and Outcomes of Adult Foundational Education

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Title: 'What We Came For': Adult Learner Perspectives on Goals and Outcomes of Adult Foundational Education
Language: English
Authors: Margaret Becker Patterson, Jungeun Lee, Lisa Soricone, Frank Gerdeman
Source: Adult Literacy Education. 2025 7(3):17-31.
Availability: ProLiteracy. 101 Wyoming Street, Syracuse, NY 13204. Tel: 888-528-2224; Tel: 315-214-2400; Fax: 315-422-6369; e-mail: info@proliteracy.org; Web site: https://proliteracy.org/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education
Adult Basic Education
Elementary Education
Descriptors: Adult Students, Student Attitudes, Adult Basic Education, Student Educational Objectives, Outcomes of Education, Student Characteristics
ISSN: 2642-3669
Abstract: Do U.S. adult learners really "get what they came for" in adult foundational education programs -- and how do we measure the value of what they get? A pressing need exists to conduct return-on-investment research to make clear the benefits of learner investments in adult foundational education to funders and prospective partners. As U.S. researchers in the Evidence-Based Adult Education System, we conceptualized return-on-investment research to center on perspectives of adult learners who seek to meet their needs in adult foundational education programs (learner return-on-investment). To lay a foundation for learner return-on-investment analyses, in 2022 we conducted a survey of 793 adult learners to identify their goals and outcomes. This paper shares major survey results and offers four quantifiable priority areas that may be considered as topics for further study of learner return-on-investment. Priority areas include making a positive difference in the community, family support, learning outcomes, and career outcomes.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1487184
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
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  Data: 'What We Came For': Adult Learner Perspectives on Goals and Outcomes of Adult Foundational Education
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Margaret+Becker+Patterson%22">Margaret Becker Patterson</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jungeun+Lee%22">Jungeun Lee</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lisa+Soricone%22">Lisa Soricone</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Frank+Gerdeman%22">Frank Gerdeman</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Adult+Literacy+Education%22"><i>Adult Literacy Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 7(3):17-31.
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  Data: ProLiteracy. 101 Wyoming Street, Syracuse, NY 13204. Tel: 888-528-2224; Tel: 315-214-2400; Fax: 315-422-6369; e-mail: info@proliteracy.org; Web site: https://proliteracy.org/
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  Data: 15
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Adult+Education%22">Adult Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Adult+Basic+Education%22">Adult Basic Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adult+Students%22">Adult Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adult+Basic+Education%22">Adult Basic Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Educational+Objectives%22">Student Educational Objectives</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outcomes+of+Education%22">Outcomes of Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Characteristics%22">Student Characteristics</searchLink>
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  Data: 2642-3669
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  Data: Do U.S. adult learners really "get what they came for" in adult foundational education programs -- and how do we measure the value of what they get? A pressing need exists to conduct return-on-investment research to make clear the benefits of learner investments in adult foundational education to funders and prospective partners. As U.S. researchers in the Evidence-Based Adult Education System, we conceptualized return-on-investment research to center on perspectives of adult learners who seek to meet their needs in adult foundational education programs (learner return-on-investment). To lay a foundation for learner return-on-investment analyses, in 2022 we conducted a survey of 793 adult learners to identify their goals and outcomes. This paper shares major survey results and offers four quantifiable priority areas that may be considered as topics for further study of learner return-on-investment. Priority areas include making a positive difference in the community, family support, learning outcomes, and career outcomes.
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      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 15
        StartPage: 17
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Adult Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adult Basic Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Educational Objectives
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Outcomes of Education
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      – SubjectFull: Student Characteristics
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: 'What We Came For': Adult Learner Perspectives on Goals and Outcomes of Adult Foundational Education
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              Y: 2025
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              Value: 2642-3669
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