GER 302/PSY 374 – PSYCHOLOGY OF AGING
Successful Aging Interview Instructions
GER 302/PSY 374 – PSYCHOLOGY OF AGING
Successful Aging Interview Instructions
1. The purpose of this assignment is for you to get to know someone over the age of 70 who is aging successfully in order to increase your knowledge of the aging experience.
2. You must choose someone who is not related to you and with whom you do not have a close personal relationship. It is often easier to share information with someone who is unrelated. If you are unable to locate such a person, see me for assistance.
3. Schedule three to four interview sessions for about 45 minutes to one hour each. Older people tire more easily, and you will get more information if you give the person time to think about the topic coming up. Do not try to do the entire interview in one session.
4. Before each interview session, familiarize yourself with the questions you are going to ask. It is better to ask the questions in the context of conversation rather than in a check-list fashion.
5. At the very beginning, explain to the individual the purpose and format of the interview. Stress the fact that he/she will be helping you with an assignment and also helping others by sharing his/her experience of and advice for successful aging.
6. Assure the individual that only a first name will be used on the report, or a pseudonym may be used if the person prefers that. He/she may remain anonymous.
7. Also assure the individual that he/she should feel free to decline to answer any questions with which he/she is uncomfortable or choose not to answer for whatever reason. Explain in your paper your conversation regarding any unanswered questions.
8. At the end of each session, tell your interviewee what topic or topics you will be discussing at the next session so that he/she can be thinking about them and getting his/her thoughts in order.
9. When all the sessions have been completed, deliver a draft of your paper to the individual for his/her approval. Make any changes requested. Thank the person for his/her help and state that you will deliver a copy of your final paper to him/her.
10. Frame the answers to the questions and other information gathered from the interviews into a narrative to provide a sketch of this individual. This should result in a 6-8 page paper (typed, 12 point font, double spaced). You may arrange your paper either chronologically or topically. You may lose points for simple “yes” or “no” answers.
11. Information must also illustrate at least three concepts or theories from class materials—be sure to identify the theories/concepts in your paper. If you neglect to include this, you will lose 25 points.
12. List the dates and time of your interviews at the end of your paper—remember, do not try to accomplish this assignment with only one interview.
13. Please do not submit your paper in a folder or binder. Simply staple the pages together.
14. Your grade for this assignment will be based on completeness of information and clarity of the written paper.