Attempts to bring Elsey's methodology in "Social Perspectives on Adult Education" to bear on aspects related to adult education policy and development work. Concludes that social theory perspectives help identify policy issues for adult education in Australia as it moves from random provision to a coherent system. (CH)

This document explores the field of social network theory (with particular emphasis given to Australian research literature) by identifying and evaluating the major explanatory models in use--which have origins in such diverse disciplines as anthropology, sociology, social psychology, and social psychiatry--and by summarizing important findings;…