The 49th Annual Adult Education Research Conference

The University of Missouri – St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri

June 5 – 7, 2008
Pre-Conferences on June 4, 2008
Deadline for receipt of proposals via e-mail as an attachment: October 1, 2007

Call for Papers

Types of Proposals:

Paper Proposals: Papers are reports of completed research and will be published in the
conference proceedings. There are three categories for papers: (a) empirical research, (b)
model or theory development, and (c) theorizing from the literature.

Research Roundtable Proposals: Research roundtables provide an opportunity to
informally discuss research in progress and research issues with a group of participants.
Symposium Proposals: A symposium presents diverse or conflicting perspectives on a
compelling topic or issue that is or should be of concern to adult education practitioners.

Guidelines for Submitting Proposals

1. All proposals must be submitted electronically via e-mail to:

Dr. Larry Martin
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
E-mail: aerc-lgm@uwm.edu
In the subject line include: AERC2008

In the body of the e-mail message, include the following:

• Title of the paper
• Contact information for all authors to include, name, address, telephone number
  and e-mail address.
• Warrant Statement for all proposals:

I [we] warrant that if my [our] paper [roundtable or symposium] proposal is
accepted, I [we] will submit a formally written summary for inclusion in the
conference proceedings. I [we] agree that the summary will be typed, singlespaced,
and ____ pages long [two pages for roundtables, six pages for papers,
eight pages for symposia].

I [we] understand that if this summary is not submitted by March 15, 2008, my
[our] presentation will not be included as part of AERC 2008 printed proceedings.

2. Submit the proposal as an attachment in Word (ver. 6.0 or higher).

For PAPER proposals: Submit two-page abstract, not to exceed 1,200 words,
which must include – at the top of the first page – the paper title Any paper
proposal extending beyond the two pages will be excluded from consideration.

For ROUNDTABLE proposals: Submit a one-page abstract, not to exceed 600
words. State the roundtable title at the top of the first page. A two-page summary
of each research roundtable will be published in the conference proceedings.

For SYMPOSIA PROPSALS: Submit a one-page abstract, not to exceed 600
words. An additional half-page abstract (maximum of 300 words) from each
presenter should provide details to the symposium abstract. Submit all abstracts
with the symposium title at the top of the first page.

3. Allow 1-inch (2.5cm) margins and use at least 10 pt type. Please do not include author names or institutional affiliations in the abstracts.

PLEASE NOTE: Only one proposal per author may be submitted for review.

Proposals must be received electronically by midnight October 1, 2007.

Session Format and Selection Criteria

Papers: The time allotted for each session is 50 minutes. Audience participation, as a
principle of adult education, is stressed. Identify your paper as (a) empirical, (b), model
or theory development, or (c) theorizing from the literature. Abstracts should be typed as
noted in the above instructions.

Empirical papers should adequately describe:

• Purpose of the study. What does the study contribute?
• Perspective or theoretical framework including relevant literature.
• Research design (including rationale for choice of methodology, research
  questions, modes of data collection, and means of analysis).
• Findings and conclusions.
• Implications for adult education theory and practice.
  

Model or theory development papers should address:

• What practical void or theoretical void will this model or theory fill with respect
  to adult education?
• What are your bases for proposing this model or theory (experience, literature,
  your own empirical research, etc.)?
• What are the elements of the model or theory and relationships among its
  elements?
• What is its relationship to existing theory?
  

Theorizing from the literature can be either explorations based on literature
(reviews and/or critiques) or applications from one field to another that give us new
insights about adult education. The following should be addressed:

• What is the purpose of this exploration or application?
• What fields of study, disciplinary perspectives, or bodies of literature are being
  analyzed?
• What are the implications for the development of adult education theory and
  practice?

If your paper is selected for presentation, you will be responsible for submitting a
formally written six-page (single-spaced, typed) paper for inclusion in the conference
proceedings. Such papers must be received by March 15, 2008. Papers received after
this date will NOT be included in the conference or proceedings. Authors whose papers
are accepted will be notified of the specifications for preparing and submitting papers.

Research Roundtables: The time allotted for each session is 50 minutes. Several
roundtable discussions will take place concurrently in the same room with each presenter
assigned to a different table. Roundtables are opportunities to discuss research and
research issues informally with interested conference participants.

Abstracts should be typed as noted in the above instructions and should describe the
purpose of the session, explain why it is important, provide any background information
needed for the discussion and pose the questions or issues that will be addressed.

Roundtable proposals will be judged based on the importance of the research or issues
they address and their potential to generate lively discussion and debate at the conference.
If your roundtable proposal is accepted, you will be responsible for submitting a formally
written two-page (single-spaced, typed) summary for inclusion in the conference
proceedings. This summary must be received by March 15, 2008. Summaries received
after this date will NOT be included in the conference.

Symposia: A symposium is intended to provide an opportunity for examination of
specific problems or topics from multiple perspectives. This purpose is best served when
individuals with diverse or conflicting views interact on a topic of sufficient scope and
importance. A symposium should NOT be merely a presentation of a related set of
papers.

Each symposium will last 90 minutes. Audience participation is encouraged.
It is the responsibility of organizers of symposia to identify topics and presenters.
Organizers must have the consent of all participants before submitting the proposal.
Organizers not wishing to chair the session must indicate a chairperson. Should
unforeseen circumstances prevent a participant from attending, it is the responsibility of
the organizer to: (1) find a suitable replacement; and (2) notify the AERC proposal
receiver, all other participants, and discussants involved in the session to enable them to
have prior access to abstracts of each presentation, so they may formulate their remarks
in the context of what the others plan to say. Organizers are urged to encourage such an
exchange of information.

Only the organizer will be notified of the acceptance of a symposium and is responsible
for notifying other participants. Symposia should address the following:
What is the controversial issue or topic being addressed? What should adult
educators care about this matter?

• What are the competing perspectives (including related bodies of
  literature) from which this issue will be addressed?
• On what basis does each panelist hold his/her perspective (experience,
  literature, one’s own empirical research)?
• What action plan or policy implications are likely to emerge from this
  examination?

If the symposium proposal is selected, the organizer is responsible for submitting a
formally written eight-page (single-spaced, typed) paper for inclusion in the conference
proceedings. Such papers must be received by March 15, 2008, or the symposium will
not be included in the conference.