UNDERSTANDING OLDER ADULTS IN EDUCATION: DECISION‐MAKING AND ELDERHOSTEL

Abstract

This qualitative study explores how older adults who are retired or contemplating retirement make choices regarding their nonformal educational experiences. This national study collected data from 154 Elderhostel participants, aged 42 to 85 and, consistent with Moustaka's five phases of phenomenological analysis, triangulated the data from 17 focus groups, 10 in‐depth interviews, and a demographic questionnaire. The choice of Elderhostel as an educational venue for learning, and the specific course selection, were found to be influenced by 14 factors: location; travel; program; course content; accommodations; cost; dates; negotiation with travel partner; social; sites; personal requirements; escape; information; and the policies, philosophy, and program requirements of Elderhostel. A participant typology emerged during the data collection and analysis revealing six types of Elderhostelers: the activity oriented, the geographical guru, the experimenter, the adventurer, the content‐committed, and the opportunist. The study of decision‐making processes in education is in its infancy. This investigation paves the way for future study aimed at expanding on this foundation of knowledge by quantitatively investigating the 14 factors that were identified, defined, and examined in this study.