National Adult Learning Survey, 2001

The 'National Adult Learning Survey 2001' (NALS 2001) is the third study in a series which explores participation in a range of learning experiences. The NALS series is used by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to evaluate the effectiveness of their adult learning policies. It is also used to monitor progress in meeting the government National Learning Target for adult participation. The third survey aimed to collect data on a wide range of learning experiences, including taught and self-directed learning, vocational learning and other types of job-related earning. It covered not only people who have done some learning, training or education, but also those who have not done any in recent years. The survey aimed to increase understanding of why some people decide to learn while others do not. The DfES are keen to identify barriers to learning that people experience such as course fees, bad past experience of learning at school and lack of time. Therefore, they are particularly interested in those who have not done any learning recently. <br><br>The first survey in the series, NALS 1997 is held at the UK Data Archive under SN:3815, and was conducted by the National Centre for Social Research under its former name, Social and Community Planning Research (SCPR). The second survey, NALS 2000, conducted by Ipsos-RSL, is held under SN:4578.<br>