A mathematical programming model to recognize conflict in adult education program selection

Abstract

Purpose of the Research. The purpose of the study was to develop a linear programming model to enable adult directors to recognize conflict in adult and continuing education program selections. A quantitative value called a conflict determination percentage was used to measure intensity of conflict between program selections made by the adult education director and selections made by all other participants. Procedure for Test of the Model. The conflict model was tested in the Adult and Continuing Education Division of San Jacinto College, Pasadena, Texas. Two hundred and sixty-five continuing education courses were assembled and divided into twenty program areas. A course title sheet was created to enable the participants to use a token strategy to determine preference weights for each course. Each participant or group of participants were allowed to place one hundred or less tokens on courses of their preference. The percentage of tokens used on each course by each participant or group of participants was used as coefficients for an objective function. Fifteen objective functions were determined in this manner. Each of the objective functions was optimized by linear programming within limits placed by the constraint set. The constraint set placed limits on enrollment, maximum and minimum course size, income (financial), and enrollments based on previous established attendance in certain program areas. There were nine constraint statements. Maximum and/or minimum assignments were placed on all courses..