Making and the learning choice tracker: another step in building the case

My now extended study investigates how adults go about choosing to learn, regardless of whether that learning was connected to specific goals for employment, personal achievement, of general interest or incidental to their life experience. I previously showed that while theories of choice making are typically rooted in aspects of psychology, sociology, economics and education, they each have various shortcomings in terms of explanatory power. I developed a qualitative multi-stage research approach based on distinct but interconnected interviews, a key benefit of which was to create a longitudinal and recursive account of choice making. I interpreted data drawn from up to three interviews over two years per participant through a unique visual lens and tool—the Learning Choice Tracker (LCT). Analysis using the LCT showed that participant learning experiences can be attributed to unique circumstances that could not be generalised to a particular theory of choice making, nor be reduced to specific focal point attributes of human behaviour. In short, individual understanding of learning choice can be transient and is highly dependent on the perspective taken at the time by the learning choice maker.
By using the LCT, I was also able to clarify, consolidate and develop rich understandings for each participant. I showed that recognition of delayed consideration of their choice making could lead to visibly emotional reactions at interview, but ultimately it was a representation they appreciated.
The LCT then, helped make clear that lived experiences challenge the assumption that learners have made a rational or conscious choice to undertake learning, and theory development is needed to account for learners or non-learners engaging in educational or other settings.
I have built on the findings through additional models and have recently secured ethics approval for further work. I describe here the subsequent steps that I and others are undertaking in 2023.