Exploring the Structure of Engagement Among Adult Secondary Students

• In Event: Lifelong Learning From Adult Secondary to Postsecondary Education

Abstract

Extant research has shown that a highly malleable entity of engagement positively affects K-16 student outcomes, especially for students who are at risk of dropping out of school. While this is a promising finding that would direct future intervention practices to assist student academic success, quite limited studies have examined engagement of adult education students. This quantitative study examined if a three-factor structure of engagement, previously identified mainly for K-12 students, is also applicable to adult secondary students. The survey instrument consisted of items on cognitive and emotional engagement adopted from the Student Engagement Instrument and a researcher-developed behavioral engagement scale. Results showed that the three-factor structure of engagement could also be reliably identified among a adult secondary students.

Authors

• Madelyn A. Arballo, Mt. San Antonio College

• Hiromi Masunaga, California State University - Long Beach