Applying Rules and Standards Accurately: Indeterminacy and Transfer Among Adult Learners

41 Pages Posted: 21 Mar 2016

See all articles by Joshua Kahn

Joshua Kahn

University of Oregon - College of Education

Erik James Girvan

University of Oregon School of Law

Date Written: March 20, 2016

Abstract

This paper introduces the construct of indeterminacy and describes its effects on transfer in adult education. Indeterminacy is characterized as a type of stimulus-response relationship in which the stimulus evokes a response that requires secondary and/or ongoing judgments as opposed to evoking a concrete, pre-determined response. Following a brief overview of research on transfer in which we highlight the neglect of a systematic study of the construct, we review extant literature from different disciplines in which indeterminacy has been recognized as playing an important role. During this process, we distinguish it from uncertainty and ambiguity. Based upon the review, we hypothesize and provide empirical evidence suggesting that indeterminacy diminishes transfer. On this basis, we argue that understanding, measuring, and controlling indeterminacy is important for the study and design of effective adult education programs.

Keywords: Job Performance, Indeterminacy, Professional Education, Judgment and Decision-Making, Uncertainty, Ambiguity, Open skills

Suggested Citation

Kahn, Joshua and Girvan, Erik James, Applying Rules and Standards Accurately: Indeterminacy and Transfer Among Adult Learners (March 20, 2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2751949 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2751949

Joshua Kahn

University of Oregon - College of Education ( email )

Corvallis, OR
United States

Erik James Girvan (Contact Author)

University of Oregon School of Law ( email )

1515 Agate Street
Eugene, OR Oregon 97403
United States
541 346-8934 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://law.uoregon.edu/faculty/girvan/

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