Wayne C. Seelbach

ELDERS AS SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS: AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE

Although frequently overlooked as school volunteers, older adults and public schools can mutually benefit from expanded utilization of elders as volunteers. This paper reviews the role and scope of school volunteerism and suggests ways to integrate Retired Senior Volunteer Program participants into school volunteer programs. Schools need the assistance of volunteers and elders can benefit from serving in such socially meaningful roles.

Achievement motivation, achieving styles, and morale in the elderly.

This research extends the literature on variables predictive of morale from the often-researched demographic, physical, and social factors to the psychological variables of achievement motivation and achieving styles. A sample of 115 older adults completed the Work and Family Orientation Questionnaire, the L-BLA Achieving Styles Inventory, and the PGC (Philadelphia Geriatric Center) Morale Scale. Regression analysis indicated that five variables were predictive of morale: (a) direct achieving style, (b) instrumental achieving style, (c) health, (d) social participation, and (e) age. The instrumental achieving style and age were inversely related to morale, although the direct and instrumental achieving styles were the two best predictors of morale.

Family satisfactions and filial norms among elderly Vietnamese immigrants

Abstract A questionnaire, administered to a sample of 60 elderly Vietnamese immigrants, probed their (1) proximity to and contact with their adult children, siblings, and parents, (2) overall satisfaction with their family relationships, and (3) generalized filial responsibility norms. The results indicate close proximity and contact with family, satisfaction with family relations, and strong filial norms, except for financial responsibility, which was seen as the governments duty.

Education and intergroup attitudes: More on the Jackman and Muha thesis

Drawing on the recent work of Jackman and Muha (1984), three views on the relationship between education and intergroup attitudes about social inequalities are presented, discussed, and empirically evaluated using probability samples of adult members of socially advantaged groups (males, whites, and non‐poor). The first view maintains that education leads to “moral enlightenment,” which in turn produces deeply‐held democratic and egalitarian attitudes and policy positions. No empirical support for this view was found. The second view states that education produces superficial commitment to democratic and egalitarian attitudes. Again, no empirical support was found. The last view, and the one supported by the research, maintains that education contributes to the sophistication and pervasiveness of ideologies of group domination. Discussion and future research suggestions are offered.

RESPONSE FORMAT AND CODING PROCEDURES IN RESEARCH ON TIME PERSPECTIVE: A METHODOLOGICAL COMMENTARY

The dimension of time perspective for extension of personal future was examined as it may be affected by response format and coding procedures. A total of 75 undergraduate students responded to a questionnaire containing one of three formats for reporting anticipated future life-events, varying in the structure imposed on responding. Temporal estimates of life-event occurrence were coded using two procedures, each of which permitted a near and a far value. Analyses suggest that the greatest degree of caution should occur in considering the representativeness of far estimates of extension provided under an open-event format. While coding procedures each produced a significant near/far difference, cross-procedure comparisons were not as impressive, despite also being significant. Questions can therefore be raised regarding techniques for obtaining time perspective data and preparing them for analysis.

Educational Brokerage: A Mechanism for Establishing Elders as Educators.

Although frequently underutilized as educators, older adults can be valuable resources to universities, colleges, and communities. This paper examines some reasons for underutilization of elders and suggests an educational brokerage system as a means of maximizing their educational contributions and rewards. A case study of an emerging brokerage system is presented.

Comparability and Short-Term Stability of Techniques to Assess Extension of Thinking about One's Personal Future

Three techniques for assessing extension of ones personal future (line-marking, open-ended report, life-events) were compared in a sample of 74 respondents. Two points of data collection were employed to examine short-term stability. At both administrations, correlations among indices suggested that techniques were only moderately comparable. Short-term stabilities were variable; correlations ranged from .42 to .79. Across subgroups of the sample, the direct, open-ended report of extension showed the greatest stability, while life-event extension showed the least. Apparently, extension of thinking about the future should be assessed by more than one technique to investigate potential relationships with other variables or changes over time in perspective about the future.

Divorce vs. Divorceness: An Analysis of Postdivorce Status

The authors introduce and develop the concept of “divorceness,” and test its utility using a sample of divorced women. Correlations between divorceness and postdivorce experiences are documented and implications for social work educators, researchers, and practitioners are presented.