Applying the ecological perspective to stereotypes: An investigation of older adult stereotypes as a function of interaction and context.

Abstract

Findings from this dissertation support all hypotheses. A significant difference was detected in younger adults' perceptions of attitudes associated with older adults. Older adults in an interactive context were rated more positively than older adults in noninteraction and neutral contexts; also, older adults in noninteractive contexts were rated more positively that older adults in a neutral context. Further, a significant difference was found between younger adults' perceptions of attitudes associated with female older adults and male older adults; females were rated more positively than males. Finally, a significant difference was discovered in how younger adults perceive older adult language abilities across contexts; older adults in an interactive context were evaluated as having better language abilities than older adults in a neutral context.

Two hypotheses were tested. The first hypothesis stated that younger adults' perceptions of attitudes associated with older adults, as measured by the Age Group Evaluation and Description (AGED) Inventory scores (Knox et al., 1995), would differ as a function of context. Hypothesis One also had a subhypothesis that stated younger adults' perceptions of attitudes associated with older adults would differ as a function of gender. The second hypothesis asserted that younger adults' perceptions of older adults' language abilities would differ as a function of context as indicated by the Language in Adulthood (LIA) Scale scores (Ryan et al., 1992). Further, a subhypothesis of Hypothesis Two stated that younger adults' perceptions of older adults' language abilities would differ as a function of gender; that is, younger adults will associate different language abilities with female older adults than male older adults.

These results are discussed as they relate to the ecological perspective (Gibson, 1966, 1979; McArthur & Baron, 1983) and other earlier older adult research. Implications of this study are related to the communication discipline. Limitations are addressed and directions for future research are suggested.

Six older adults were recruited as confederates and agreed to be videotaped. A validation test of these six older adult videotapes allowed for selection of two confederates, one male and one female, to become the older adult targets for this study. These two older adult targets agreed to be filmed in three contexts for the purposes of this study. Younger adult participants (N = 180), aged 18-32 years old, rated the videotapes.

This dissertation investigated whether context and interaction affected younger adults' perceptions of older adult stereotypes. The ecological perspective (see Gibson, 1966, 1979; McArthur & Baron, 1983) was adopted for this study and provided a theoretical basis in which the effects of context on older adult stereotypes can be examined. The Age Group Evaluation and Description Inventory (Knox, Gekoshi, & Kelly, 1995) was employed to assess stereotypes of and attitudes toward older adults. The Language in Adulthood (LIA) Scale (Ryan, See, Meneer, & Trovato, 1992) was used to measure receptive and expressive language skills in older adults.