Understanding transformative learning through metatheory

Abstract

This chapter describes transformative learning as a catch‐all term to describe many disparate phenomena related to learning processes involved in human transformation. It argues for the distinction between individual theories used to understand these phenomena and the metatheoretical work of analyzing across theories. This article then reviews recent literature that explicitly engages with transformative learning as a metatheory, categorizing this work as either philosophical or phenomenological streams of meteatheory.

Traditional gender roles and patriarchal values: Critical personal narratives of a woman from the Chaoshan region in China

“…When personal perspectives shift towards broader, more perceptive and self‐reflective viewpoints, transformative learning is said to have taken place (Mezirow, 2003). According to Hoggan and Higgins (2023), there have been some studies under the banner of “transformative learning” that have addressed human transformation as a learning process (e.g., Ensign, 2019; Hoggan, 2016; Maiese, 2017). Transformative learning theory has been applied in various educational settings, including adult education and social justice education.…”

Situating Transformative Learning Research

“…For example, the concept of the self can be understood as an entity, as different phenomena across disciplinary fields (e.g., sociology vs. psychology), and differently within a field across distinct theories (e.g., Tennant, 2012). There is utility in thinking about TL as a phenomenon when we are referring to it as a broad field of inquiry or in terms of metatheory (Hoggan, 2016; Hoggan & Higgins, 2023). While the conceptualization of the singular serves one type of purpose, we also recognize TL as phenomena, the plural within the singular.…”

“…Classifying TL research in terms of metatheoretical and theoretical frames is an essential task in building the body of knowledge (Gunnlaugson, 2008; Hoggan & Higgins, 2023). There are, of course, many ways to group and sort the TL literature.…”