THE COMMON CONCERN - CONTROLLING THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF ADULT-EDUCATION

Using the findings from a study of the adult education handbooks, the purpose of this paper is to present an argument that university resear chers in the field of adult education have relied upon a natural scien ce model of empirical analysis to develop the knowledge base of adult education in order to control the development of the field as a profes sion. This professionalization process depends upon using scientifical ly-derived knowledge to standardize professional practice and the trai ning of practitioners in order to develop a market share in a service economy.