Brown's Second Basic Principle

On first blush, when some read Brown's second principle, "Individuals differ in general ability, specifi aptitudes, and interests. Although tacitly assumed, experimental work in mental and educational measurements, aptitude tests, and interest analyses have demonstrated extremes in individual differences only partially recognized before. Such differences tend to increase rather than decrease with advancing years, thereby demanding a widely diversified program of education for adults" someone might think that what Brown is writing is that adults are less apt to learn as they age.

Having re-read the second point: "Individuals differ in general ability, specific aptitudes, and interests." On re-reading this statement and the paragraph following it, especially the line that states "such difference" such as educational measurements, aptitude tests, etc, "tend to increase rather than decrease" with time and age. Unlike most, I read this and agreed with it as a statement that withstood the test of time, but didn't read it as some might, that as people age their ability to learn decreases.



What I read was that the differences in learning styles, an aptitude with different skills and interests increase. That a trainee who tends to learn better with a CBT as a younger adult will continue to learn better and gravitate to that style of learning more and more as he grows older. Or a worker who finds hands-on training more effective will tend to find more training that includes hands-on training the most effective way to learn.



At our organization what we like to do is recognize that a training mix that includes techniques and tools that play to all the different learning styles can help create the most effective transfer of knowledge, no matter what the trainee is used to. We have many trainees with decades of experience who never embraced technology and continue to eschew any training that includes technology. Conversely, we have some who have seen the benefits of more technological delivery methods have become more comfortable with them, and now see those as the best way to train. I read that statement as to age highlights and intensifies tendencies, not as a direct indictment of age and ability to learn.



What a terrific way to start the discussions. I really enjoy seeing how others read the same articles and can generate a discussion.



Brown, F. J. (1932). Basic Principles Underlying Adult Education. Journal of Educational Sociology, 5(8),  463-47. https://doi.org/10.2307/2961482