Generational Differences Are Real and Useful

Abstract

We propose that generational differences are meaningful despite some theoretical and methodological challenges (cf. Costanza & Finkelstein, 2015). We will address five main issues: operationalizing generations, measuring generational differences, theoretical models of generations, mechanisms of generational change, and the importance of science versus stereotypes.

Generations as social categories: An exploratory cognitive study of generational identity and generational stereotypes in a multigenerational workforce

“…Researchers from around the Western world have studied very similar generational categories. We argue that within the Western world, practically the same major technological changes (e.g., the rise of the Internet‐molded Generation Y), economic upheavals and downturns (e.g., the consequences of the 1970's oil embargo by the Middle East affecting Generation X), and social movements (e.g., the hippie movement and women's liberalization shaping the Baby Boomers) have occurred (Campbell et al, ). However, we recognize that circumstances were not the same in all countries/regions.…”

“…2 | THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 2.1 | The concept of generation Generations can be viewed from different perspectives (Rudolph & Zacher, 2017). Generations can be theorized from a sociological perspective looking at generations as social forces facilitating change in societies (Mannheim, 1952), from a cultural perspective claiming that generations shape culture and are not simply shaped by them (Campbell, Campbell, Siedor, & Twenge, 2015), and from a psychological perspective discerning in generations an explanation for behavior (Rudolph & Zacher, 2017). The notions of replacement and temporal succession that are core to generational theory have been applied to various contexts (Alwin & McCammon, 2007;Rudolph & Zacher, 2017), such as "generation as birth cohorts," which is a function of being born at a certain period of time as a formative context; "generation as kinship"; "generation as age-effect" resulting from location in the biological process and in life span development; and "generations as timing of entry into the organization and tenure" pointing to succession in organizations (Joshi, Dencker, & Franz, 2011).…”

Values of generations in the context of inter-generational communication

“…The main criticism of researchers comes down to the fact that the existing quasiexperimental studies. First, they do not allow to differentiate effects of age, birth time, and experience [8,12,13,14]. Second, they do not allow to explain the reasons of emerging the intergenerational distinctions [8,14].…”

“…Despite essential methodological difficulties of studying the generations, many researchers are sure that similar work is necessary [9,12,15]. They note that when studying generations, the problem consists not in lack of the facts proving distinctions between and in generations, and in lack of an opportunity to compare data of different researchers among themselves [12].…”

Relationship Between Vitality And Generational Identification

“…In the scientific world, there is a paradoxical picture. On the one hand, there is a discussion whether there are any differences between generations (Campbell, Campbell, Siedor, & Twenge, 2015;Cucina, Byle, Martin, & Gast, 2018;Rudolph & Zacher, 2017). On the other hand, there are recommendations how to use the resources of each generation in practical activities: in training (Dam et al, 2017), work (Yakimova & Masilova, 2017), marketing (Astashova, 2014).…”