Learning by listing: A content analysis of students’ perceptions of older adults and grandparents

Abstract

Views of specific older adults may differ substantially from views of older adults in general, and such views may influence preconceived notions of aging that students bring into the classroom. Using an in-class activity, the authors tested the hypothesis that grandparents, about whom we know more individuated information, would be characterized by different, and more positive, descriptors than older adults. Following verbal prompts, undergraduates (N = 98) listed terms describing older adults and grandparents. Conventional and directed content analysis with a multistage coding scheme was employed. Results revealed that descriptors were primarily negative (e.g., sick) and emphasized physical characteristics (e.g., wrinkly) for older adults but were more positive (e.g., sweet) and highlighted personality characteristics (e.g., kind) for grandparents. Although mentioned less often for grandparents, health-related and physical characteristics were predominantly negative for both groups. This word-listing exercise highlighted heterogeneity in views of older adults and underscored the value of studying gerontology.

Role-Based Framing of Older Adults Linked to Decreased Ageism Over 210 Years: Evidence From a 600-Million-Word Historical Corpus

“…While some of them are greatly disadvantaged and in need of both personal and social support, the majority are reasonably healthy with plenty to offer to society via both paid and unpaid roles ( Riley & Riley, 1989 ). Previous studies have shown that views of older persons are positively predicted by the availability of information regarding their social roles ( Hoogland & Hoogland, 2018 ). Hence, it will be useful to spotlight the roles played by older adults in society.…”

“…An area of research that has recently piqued the interest of gerontologists concerns how perceptions of specific older adults differ from perceptions of older adults in general. Studies found that grandparents were described by respondents in personality-related terms which were mainly positive, while the broader category of older people elicited descriptors denoting mental and physical decline ( Hoogland & Hoogland, 2018 ; Newsham et al, 2020 ). Consistent with social role theory, it is plausible that positive attitudes toward grandparents are largely informed by the keen awareness of their social roles ( Hoogland & Hoogland, 2018 ).…”

“…Studies found that grandparents were described by respondents in personality-related terms which were mainly positive, while the broader category of older people elicited descriptors denoting mental and physical decline ( Hoogland & Hoogland, 2018 ; Newsham et al, 2020 ). Consistent with social role theory, it is plausible that positive attitudes toward grandparents are largely informed by the keen awareness of their social roles ( Hoogland & Hoogland, 2018 ). Hence, it would be worthwhile to consider how positive perceptions of grandparents can be integrated more broadly into perceptions of older adults as a group ( Hoogland & Hoogland, 2018 ).…”

“…Consistent with social role theory, it is plausible that positive attitudes toward grandparents are largely informed by the keen awareness of their social roles ( Hoogland & Hoogland, 2018 ). Hence, it would be worthwhile to consider how positive perceptions of grandparents can be integrated more broadly into perceptions of older adults as a group ( Hoogland & Hoogland, 2018 ).…”

“…Conceptually, this study is among the first to compare the narratives associated with age-based and role-based terms. While past studies have traced how age-specific terms used to refer to older adults have changed in meaning over time ( Covey, 1988 ), research on role-based terms is still in its infancy, with observations from prior analyses restricted to small samples ( Hoogland & Hoogland, 2018 ; Newsham et al, 2020 ). This study enhances existing research by elucidating how age-based and role-based narratives have percolated over the last 210 years, providing insight into the meanings ascribed to old age and the roles of older individuals throughout history.…”