Journal of Research and Practice in Adult Literacy, Secondary and Basic Education, Vol.2 No.2, Summer 2013
This article describes a study that investigated aspects of formal, non-formal, and informal learning for workers and adult high school learners seeking literacy and essential skills.
Researchers gathered information from respondents in Manitoba, Ontario, and Nova Scotia, using semi-structured interviews with instructors and learners to obtain qualitative data, and questionnaires to obtain quantitative data.
The purpose of this study, undertaken by researchers at the University of Ottawa, was to assess the current scholarship on adult learning and social capital with specific attention to research in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States.
The term “social capital” is open to many definitions but essentially refers to the positive effects social networks can have on the productivity and quality of life of both individuals and groups.