Handbook of the Evolving Research of Transformative Learning Based on the Learning Activities Survey

by Kathleen P. King

Associate bSeamus Kingb This handbook is a much expanded version of the original Learning Activities Survey published by Dr. Kathleen P. King of Fordham University in 1998. Based on her ground breaking research in this field where she used a mixed methodology research approach to study transformative learning, the book will provide a model of research, firsthand perspective of how research design develops, reprints of articles based on the related research and specific assistance in conducting further research in this area. Over 50 studies around the world have been conducted base on King's original research, and her work has extended across more than 12 studies since the original publication. Moreover, this volume is a vital research companion book to King's popular book, Bringing Transformative Learning to Life (Krieger, 2005). Based on our history with the prior edition (it is sold out); this book will have wide appeal among adult education human resource development, psychology and counseling researchers, students, professors, and practitioners, and it serve as an excellent textbook or personal introduction studies of foundations of adult learning, applied research or transformative learning. Professors and students of adult learning, counseling, human resource development, staff development, educational administration and leadership, psychology and other social sciences use this as a guide for research studies especially in the area of adult learning andor transformative learning. Readers will find that this handbook provides an overview of King's transformative learning research dating back to 1997, a manual for use of the research tools, a research methodology and an approach to open new vistas of research. The first manual (published in 1998) is now out of print and this 10th anniversary edition not only fills the gap, but also continues where it stopped. This handbook delineates the original model and the expanding and evolving research which has developed from 1997 to 2008. More than a manual, instead this book uses a variety of formats to accomplish this reflection, formal discussion, instructions, technical information, personal and learner stories, selected research articles, and several modified forms of the original Learning Activities Survey (LAS) instrument.

348 pages, Paperback

First published January 19, 2009

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book and the survey has formed the basis of my Ph.D. dissertation and some of my subsequent research activity. King is an important scholar, especially in the area of transformative learning as applied to educational technology. The book is readable and provides examples of research using the survey to examine transformative learning. As an aside, Dr. King was the external examiner for my dissertation and her input led to a better dissertation and furthered my learning.