ERIC Number: ED158001
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1978-Mar
Pages: 36
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Client Reaction to Lifelong Learning Center Service: A First Approximation.
Toombs, William
A descriptive study using summary and internal comparisons was designed to discover client perceptions of the Lifelong Learning Center's services in regard to their needs and expectations. One hundred fifty-five clients rated on a five-point scale their satisfaction with access conditions, staff interactions, and information exchange. Also measured were career and education needs and results. Two global questions ("how it all turned out" and "feelings about life as a whole") were asked. Client interviews concentrated on how the experience fitted into the participants' lives. Counselor support and nurturance were found to be the most important first contact elements. Access was judged quite satisfactory; low ratings were assigned to information provided. Clarifying employment goals was mentioned most on the career needs scale; seventy-seven rated finishing school a primary educational need. Career information responses reflected educational job requirements to be a major concern. Educational information needs revealed heavy emphasis on college and postgraduate programs. Outcomes showed that 101 clients took some action related to their center association. Ninety-nine globally rated their center experience satisfying or very satisfying. Feelings of life satisfaction were below the national population; twice as many as the national population appeared mostly dissatisfied. Interviews found that client "readiness" characteristics differed greatly. (CSS)
Descriptors: Access to Education, Adult Counseling, Adult Education, Career Counseling, Career Planning, Counselor Role, Educational Needs, Helping Relationship, Information Centers, Information Needs, Information Networks, Lifelong Learning, Participant Satisfaction, Program Effectiveness, Program Evaluation, Readiness
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park. Center for the Study of Higher Education.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (Toronto, Canada, March 27-31, 1978)