The contribution of qualitative methods for identifying the educational needs of adults

Abstract

This study addresses the contribution of applying qualitative research methods for identifying the educational activities planned for adults. The paper is based on the experience gained during in-depth interviews with 39 elderly and 33 middle-aged participants, by purposive sampling method and maximum variation technique, within a needs analysis study in phenomenology design. Qualitative research techniques for assessing the opinions of elderly and middle-aged adults about the necessity and content of training programmes for ageing, and preparing androgogy-based and need-based educational programmes in compliance with the results was evaluated. In the scope of the study, the fact that applying qualitative research techniques such as in-depth interviews with exploratory questions and observation facilitated reaching more descriptive and more elaborative results compared to applying the quantitative research techniques such as questionnaires with short questions and numeric data anlaysis in the surveys on adults with divergent life experience, traits and expectation was concluded.

Keywords: Adult, ageing, elderly, qualitative research methods.