This collection of speeches and essays concerns various viewpoints on the subject of adult education research. The first paper, Lifelong Learning: Problems in Research (Apps), examines the viewpoint that the majority of research as now practiced is not consistent with the major assumptions in the field of adult education. The next essay, Participatory Research: Should It Be a New Methodology for Adult Educators? (Griffith and Cristarella), answers several questions about participatory research: (1) What is participatory research? (2) How does it compare with established methodologies? and (3) Should all adult educators be taught to carry out such research? The third paper, Participatory Research: Breaking the Academic Monopoly (Hall), also deals with the concept of participatory research, especially with its future directions. Next, Boshier presents a conceptual and methodological perspective concerning research on participation in adult education. Finally, Boyd re-examines basic conceptualizations of learning for the older adult learner. Each paper includes bibliographies concerning the author's subject matter. (CT)