C. Importance of goals and expectation
that participation will meet goals

There are two parts to C. The first is the importance of goals to the learner and the second is the expectation that participation will meet the learner’s goals. If the goal, that is important to the learner, is felt likely to be achieved through further education, then the motivation at point C is strong. However if the goal is not especially important or if the likelihood of success is in doubt, motivation decreases accordingly.

Expectancy is related to self-esteem (see reverse arrow) in that learners with high self-esteem “expect” to be successful. However learners with low self-esteem will experience doubt about their probable success. There has been considerable successful research done in changing attitudes toward education for this latter group.

D. Life transitions

Life transitions are periods of change that call for adjustments to new phases of the life cycles (for example, getting hired/fired/quit job; separation, divorce, remarriage; critical promotion; re-entry into work place; new interest and hobbies; health problems; retirement or preparation of retirement; changes in finances; death of friends or spouse; or physical

Cross, K.P.(1981). Adult as Learners: Increasing Participation and Facilitating Learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers pp124-130