Yet, adult educators have engaged in little research into the learning and developmental experiences of immigrant Americans. The purpose of the study is to investigate, analyze, and describe how British Caribbean, immigrant women in the United States construct knowledge from their transcultural experiences and how they use their acquired knowledge to facilitate their transition to the host culture. The study will focus on the women's knowledge construction and acquisition in the host country, their process of self-development and transformation, and the role of culture in shaping their transcultural experiences. This study draws on the bicultural life structure theory and constructivist epistemology. Bicultural life structure theory examines the interplay between the dominant and minority cultures and its effects on the lives of minority groups.
Constructivist epistemology is a theory of knowledge acquisition that focuses on how people learn.
This qualitative study will use a sample of 20 female immigrants from the British Caribbean islands who have been residing in the United States for at least 5 years, have participated in some form of formal educational program, and have worked outside the home. The study will use thematic analysis of the research data with in-depth, informal, conversational interviews for data collection. This study will add to the knowledge base in adult education. By bringing in the voices of those immigrant Americans who are nonwhite and nonEuropean, we can expand existing theories of epistemology, adult learning, and adult development, as these have often been criticized for their Euro centric perspective. Conference Presentations Courses Current Projects Mary Alfred's Home Page.