Using Aristotle's Four Causes to Evaluate and Revise Adult Education Programs.

This article focuses on applying Aristotle's four causes—material, formal, efficient, and final—as an analytical framework for formative and summative assessment and development of educational programs, particularly in adult education. It argues that the final cause, which considers the actual use and outcomes of a program as a causal factor rather than a mere output, offers novel insight into program evaluation by acknowledging recursive and evolving dynamics. Through a detailed case study of a community-based adult education initiative, the article illustrates how shifts in leadership and implementation altered the original vision, leading to unintended consequences and program decline. The authors propose that viewing program review as a non-linear, iterative process informed by Aristotle's causes can enhance understanding of program evolution and guide more effective revisions.