Propensity to Lifelong Learning: Reflections of a Research Student.

The author's research for a masters and doctoral studies are discussed. The author was interested in what makes a lifelong learner and conducted a pilot study investigating whether there might be a prima facie case for the proposition that the British findings are, or may be, either generalisable or transferable to the Australian context. Asking 'What makes an Australian lifelong learner?' became the topic of the author's masters research project and now his doctoral study. The key social determinants were found to be time (of birth), place (of birth), gender, family (influence) and initial schooling (influence). It was found that experience of initial schooling is the key influence of post-compulsory learning; experience of work and adult family life are the key influences of later-life learning.