A “gold mine” of interdisciplinary knowledge: Handbook of Research on Adult Learning and Development

Handbook of Research on Adult Learning and Development – Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group) New York.

Edited by M Cecil Smith, Assistant Editor, with Nancy DeFrates-Densch

The Rogue Scholarship on Aging Review:

This is a book that needs to be on your book shelf (or “borrowed” long-term from somebody else’s) for frequent use and reference in your research, teaching, and for your scientific knowledge of adulthood.

 **** (four stars out of five)

     I have to admit that a lot of “handbooks” (primarily for the academy) that get published tend to be long on the page numbers (usually a massive and hearty door-stopper) and heavy on the price (the price is often way out of reach for the typical salaried professor – and grad student – just hope the library might carry it) – and have the feel of “looking back” (sort of – “let’s see where we been”) so much so that the handbook ends up with the effect of being “out of date.” So if your desire and hope is for something not only current, but forward-thinking (what’s ahead ? – what are the trends? – what’s on the horizon ?), most “handbooks” fail to deliver. But it is no surprise. In the publishing world, perhaps it is safer to stay in the shallow end where it is safe and sure based on creating an “inventory” of what was – sort of a “”the owl of Minerva spreads its wings only with the falling of the dusk”” – and so “at the end of the day” most handbooks take in the historical accounting of the progress in a field and then draw the line and stop short of having the publication sustain itself for the next 5 years or so. Handbooks are typically missing the dialectical structure – in the sense that – you can almost hear the publisher say: “That is what the next handbook publication is for,” but that does not address the missing element of the feel of the handbook being dynamic, fresh, and elevating in setting the foundation for – what happens next?

     The Handbook of Research on Adult Learning and Development is refreshingly different and the overall feel is having stumbled upon a “gold mind” [sic] of information and knowledge that is effectively organized by the Editor (and Assistant Editor) such that each chapter is a gold nugget in and of itself. The “talent” – that is, the contributing authors for each of the chapters represent the top scholars in the field who “walk the walk” in scientific publications and presentations. The reader is getting the best of the best in this publication. It is an incredible book – simply monumental in scope and depth for the myriad of issues that intersect with adult learning and development. I would recommend this as the consummate and authoritative “text” in any graduate course(s) on adult development and learning, aging, and topical courses in gerontology (and I mean adulthood as defined in the most broadest sense); it is quite simply a welcome addition to the literature in this domain. I congratulate M Cecil Smith as the Editor and Routledge for facilitating the collection and the production of this publication.

The “handbook” has once again regained relevancy, timeliness, and gravity. And in this case, the gravity is due to the intellectual “critical mass” –  this publication is rare and exceptional, but hopefully a harbinger for the future – a template for others to follow and replicate.

Readers are encouraged to see more information at the web site for Routledge   in regards to the details of this publication, but I have duplicated the Table of Contents below:

Part 1: Theoretical Perspectives on Adult Development and Learning. F. Blanchard-Fields, A. S. Kalinauskas Challenges for the Current Status of Adult Developmental Theories: A New Century of Progress. J. L. Tanner, J. Jensen Arnett, J. A. Leis Emerging Adulthood: Learning and Development During the First Stage of Adulthood. C. Hoare Models of Adult Development in Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Theory and Erikson’s Biopsychosocial Life Stage Theory: Moving to a More Complete Three-Model View. J. D. Sinnott Cognitive Development as the Dance of Adaptive Transformation: Neo-Piagetian Perspectives on Adult Cognitive Development.

Part 2: Research Methods in Adult Development. J. K. Holt Analyzing Change in Adulthood with Multilevel Growth Models: Selected Measurement, Design, and Analysis Issues. J. C. Valentine, H. Cooper Research Synthesis and Meta-Analysis.

Part 3: Research on Adult Development. M. B. Magolda, E. Abes, V. Torres Epistemological, Intrapersonal, and Interpersonal Development in the College Years and Young Adulthood. C. R. Bolkan, P. Meierdiercks, K. Hooker Addressing Stability and Change in the Six-Foci Model of Personality: Personality Development in Midlife and Beyond. U. M. Staudinger, E. Kessler Adjustment and Growth: Two Trajectories of Positive Personality Development Across Adulthood. G. Creasey, P. Jarvis Attachment and Marriage. N. F. Marks, E. A. Greenfield The Influence of Family Relationships on Adult Psychological Well-Being and Generativity. L. M. Diamond, M. Butterworth The Close Relationships of Sexual Minorities: Partners, Friends, and Family. P. Moen, E. Kelly, R. Magennis Gender Strategies: Socialization, Allocation, and Strategic Selection Processes Shaping the Gendered Adult Life Course. E. J. Porfeli, F. W. Vondracek Career Development, Work, and Occupational Success. P. Wink Religious and Spiritual Development in Adulthood.

Part 4: Research on Adult Learning. D. Thompson A Brief History of Research and Theory on Adult Learning and Cognition. P. A. Alexander, P. K. Murphy, J. M. Kulikowich Expertise and the Adult Learner: A Historical, Psychological, and Methodological Exploration. C. A. Berg, M. Skinner, K. Ko An Integrative Model of Everyday Problem Solving Across the Adult Life Span. K. M. Sheldon Changes in Goal Striving Across the Life Span: Do People Learn to Select More Self-Concordant Goals as They Age? V. J. Marsick, K. E. Watkins, M. W. Callahan, M. Volpe Informal and Incidental Learning in the Workplace. M. C. Smith Literacy in Adulthood. S. R. Jones, A. Gasiorski Service Learning, Civic and Community Participation: Contributions to Adult Development. L. L. Weyandt Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults.

Part 5: Aging and Gerontological Research. B. T. Mast, J. Zimmerman, S. V. Rowe What Do We Know About the Aging Brain?: Implications for Learning in Late Life. M. Ardelt, S. Jacobs Wisdom, Integrity, and Life Satisfaction in Very Old Age. Part 6: Policy Perspectives on Aging. J. Treas, T. Hill Social Trends and Public Policy in an Aging Society.

thanks, Scott D. Wright