Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE GER2010

 
TITLE Researching Ageing and Later Life

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Gerontology and Dementia Studies

 
DESCRIPTION The changing demographic profiles of modern societies have led to a growing interest in understanding ageing and later life among those working within the social sciences and humanities. This study-unit addresses the methodological challenges entailed in studying the process of ageing and later life, as well as the experience of growing older. It focuses on the methodological practices of doing gerontological and geriatric research, using a wide range of examples and case studies. The study-unit covers a variety of disciplines and methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative, and a diversity of sources, including fiction, photographs, as well as the traditional social science sources.

Study-unit Aims:

The aim of this study-unit is to provide students with knowledge pertaining to research methodology applied to the multidisciplinary field of gerontology. It provides students with basic skills needed to undertake various types of research with older adult populations. Key aspects of applied research will be addressed including: special problems sampling older adults; operationalization of variables; longitudinal research design; ethical issues associated with cognitively impaired participants and; an introduction to data analysis. An emphasis will be placed on survey research; however, other major research designs will be addressed (both quantitative and qualitative). Specific reference will also be made to current research issues in gerontology.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- differentiate how different research designs are appropriate for younger, middle-aged, and older adults.
- explain different strategies and methods in researching ageing and later life.
- outlining secondary data research on older adult in Malta.
- comparing longitudinal and life-history research strategies.
- explaining ethical issues in researching later life.
- outlining the use of gerontological research in policy and practice.
- explaining the role of older persons in social research.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- foster skills in the planning and carrying out of qualitative and quantitative research that investigate ageing and later life.
- carry out interviews and surveys targeting older adults.
- conducting life history research with older adults.
- evaluating health and social care interventions.
- doing care study research in gerontology and geriatrics.
- own skills in gathering and analyzing secondary data.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main text:

- Jamieson, A. & Victor, C. (2002) (Eds.) Researching Ageing and Later Life. Buckingham : Open University.

Supplementary texts:

- Lee. M. (2010)The Capacity to Consent to Research Among Older Adults. Educational Gerontology. 36: 7, 592-603.
- HelpAge, (2002). Participatory research with older people: A sourcebook (available online). London: HelpAge.
- Russell, C. (1999). Interviewing vulnerable old people: Ethical and methodological implications of Imagining our subjects. Journal of Aging Studies, 13 : 403-417.
- Kaufman, S. R. 1994. "In-Depth Interviewing.'' In Qualitative Methods in Aging Research, edited by J. F. Gubrium and A. Sankar. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
- Hoonaard, D.K. (2005). Am I doing it right?Q: Older widows as interview participants in qualitative research. Journal of Aging Studies 19 : 393–406.
- Dannefer, D. and Phillipson, C. (2010) (eds.) The SAGE handbook of social gerontology. New York: SAGE.
- Johnson, M.L. (2005) (ed.) The Cambridge handbook of age and ageing. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES This study-unit is only offered to students following the Higher Diploma in Gerontology and Geriatrics course.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (2 Hours) Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Anthony Scerri

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit