Microsoft Word Ed Horwitz Post Dissertation Fina docx

 Adult Learning Theory 
 
The roots of adult learning theory can be traced to Lindeman’s The Meaning of Adult 
Education, published in 1926. The field of adult learning theory can be divided into behaviorist 
and constructivist lenses (Baumgartner, 2003). Behaviorists believe that learning can only occur 
through observation (Watson, 1930). Learned behavior can be followed by positive 
reinforcement to increase the likelihood of repeat behavior (Shaffer, 1994). Behaviorist 
educators view people as a collection of their individual learned habits, and use programmatic 
learning techniques for education and skill reinforcement, such as repeated drills and 
memorization (Watson, 1930). For example, a financial education program utilizing a behaviorist 
lens might focus heavily on memorizing terms and definitions, reinforced by exercises and 
quizzes on learned material.  
 
Other educators assert a constructivist lens, and believe learning is a search for meaning 
(Baumgartner, 2003). As opposed to the behaviorist, constructivists believe that knowledge must 
be obtained by the learner and not just absorbed through experiences all around us (Baumgartner, 
2003). This means that individuals must take action to acquire knowledge and assimilate it 

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cognitively. For example, employees may choose to participate in a financial education program 
through their employer, purchase and read a personal money management book, or sign up for a 
personal finance course at a local community college. People form internal cognitive structures 
to manage, live, and optimize their surrounding world (Baumgartner, 2003). More specifically, 
new learning requires cognitive structures to be reorganized as we assimilate new knowledge, 
leading to accommodations in our held beliefs and ultimately a reformed cognitive structure 
(Miller, 1993). Constructivist educators believe the best opportunities for learning occur through 
factual analysis, discussion, and critical thought, in order to obtain new knowledge 
(Baumgartner, 2003). The financial education program utilized for this research is based upon a 
conceptualization of adult learning theory, viewed through a constructivist lens.