Effects of a self-directed learning group experience on the self-directed learning readiness and self-concepts of adult basic education students and general educational development students

There is worldwide concern about the functionally illiterate adult's limited ability to successfully adapt to a rapidly changing "information society." Literacy education is seen as an important means of confronting this problem. This study investigated the effects of a group treatment designed to increase the self-directed learning readiness and the self-concepts of adult education students. Subjects were randomly selected from volunteers in a community college migrant program and an adult education program at a maximum security correctional institute. Students with a reading level from fourth through tenth grade who were enrolled in the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program or the General Educational Development (GED) program were included. Thirty-eight experimental group subjects and 31 control group subjects completed the study. The experimental group was divided into three subgroups of 12 to 14 subjects for group treatment. Each subgroup participated in 10 one-hour sessions. Subjects were pretested and posttested using Guglielmino's Self-directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS) and the Tennessee Self-concept Scale (TSCS). An analysis of covariance conducted on the data collected from the SDLRS and the TSCS revealed no significant difference in the self-directed learning readiness or self-concepts of the experimental and control groups. The facilitator's evaluation of the group process, attendance, and written evaluations by the experimental subjects provided further information regarding the effectiveness of the treatment. Written evaluations indicated that experimental subjects found the group experience very helpful but not long enough. The most cohesive subgroup had the highest average attendance (92%), the highest gain in TSCS scores, and evaluated the experience as the most helpful. Recommendations for future research include increasing the sample size; increasing the length of treatment; incorporating the treatment into the established adult education program in which the subject is enrolled; having a treatment facilitator who is experienced in working with the target group; taking steps to improve group cohesiveness; selecting subjects who are more similar in terms of learning needs, goals, and capabilities.