Exam 1
Describe and diagram a cohort sequential design and evaluate its advantages and limitations for identifying aging effects.
A cohort sequential design is where it combines cross-sectional and longitudinal designs and it allows assessment of age vs cohort effects but doesn't control for time measurement effects
What is a time of measurement effect? Why should a researcher be concerned with time of measurement effects when trying to identify developmental or aging effects?
A time of measurement effect is an event that happens in history that could effect the people being evaluated. It's important to be conscious of it because it can change vital psychological characteristics of a generation (9/11) or event biological effects (Hiroshima).
Describe the elements of an experiment. Describe the elements of a correlational study. What sorts of questions does each type of study examine?
An experiment has an independent and a dependent variable that asks how does the independent variable effect the dependent variable A correlational study is where associations among variables are observed and asks about the relationship between variables
Describe challenges to the sustainability of Social Security and Medicare.
As more people are aging, more people need social security and medicare but less people are in the workforce
How is maximum lifespan defined? How is average life expectancy defined
Average life expectancy is the age at which half of the individuals who are born in a particular year will have died whereas maximum lifespan is the maximum age that any individual lives to.
Describe the four basic forces in human development.
Biological, sociocultural, psychological, and life cycle forces. Biological include genetic/health factors, psychological include private events, sociocultural involve the social environment, and life cycle forces is how the same event affect persons differently at different points in the lifespan.
What is a normative history graded or cohort effect? Describe three different "cohorts" that were born during the last century. Describe three differences between the experiences of your cohort and your grandparents' cohort.
Cohort effects are differences that are caused by experiences and circumstances unique to the generation to which a person belongs Ex) Baby boomers didn't have the technology we have, our language is different, and they didn't grow up with economic difficulties such as the recession
Compare and contrast a cross-sectional design and a longitudinal design. What are the advantages and limitations of each for determining aging effects? Be prepared to draw a diagram of an example of each design.
Cross-sectional design is where different people across different groups are measured for the same variable whereas longitudinal design is where the study follows the same person (or people) over time. An advantage of cross-sectional designs is that it is cheaper and easier, but less controlling for other factors An advantage of longitudinal designs is that they control for variance factors, but they are expensive and time consuming
Compare and contrast stage models (discontinuity) vs. continuous models of development.
Discontinuity models = change occurs is predicatable, orderly, step-like fashion Qualitative Continuous model = gradual, same principles and processes influence behavior across the lifespan Quantitative
Define and provide examples of each of the following: normative age graded factors, nonnormative influences on development, normative history-graded factors. For each category be prepared to provide examples of a biological, psychological, and sociocultural factor (note: nonnormative influences are not applicable to sociocultural factors).
Normative age graded factors are experiences that are highly correlated with age (biological: puberty, psychological: role-related experiences, sociocultural: entering school) Nonnormative influences are random or rare events that affect an individual but are not experienced by most people (biological: infections, psychological: trauma, sociocultural: pants falling down) Normative history-graded factors are events that most people in a specific culture experience at the same time (biological: epidemics, psychological: gender roles, sociocultural: war)
Define the following terms and provide three examples of each: primary aging changes and secondary aging changes. Define tertiary aging.
Primary aging is aging that is universal to all members of a species (stiffening of internal organs, loss of peripheral vision, hair graying) Secondary aging is aging that is due to disease, disuse, or abuse (smell, loss of vision, lack of muscle strength) Tertiary aging is rapid losses that occur shortly before death
Based on lecture, describe K. Warner Schaie's "most efficient design". Describe how the design controls for cohort, time of measurement, and practice/memory effects. Within this design, what is the rationale for adding new participants from each cohort at each measurement point?
The design adds new participants at each measurement point to control for testing effects. It allows us to control for time of measurement effects unlike the cross sequential designs.
Describe changes in the age structure of the United States over the past 50 years. How will the age structure of the U.S. change over the next 50 years?
The life expectancy has increased and will continue to increase. More people are living to be older.
Describe sampling problems that emerge in conducting life-span developmental research. How might a longitudinal study of a psychological problem such as substance abuse, suicide, or eating disorders be affected by sampling problems?
The samples might not be as diverse as one would like, and they may drop out or die.
Recall the film "God Grew Tired of Us". Describe normative history-graded (or cohort) differences between Panther, John, & Daniels's cohort in the Sudan and the current cohort of children in the United States. How do you think the early traumatic experiences of the "Lost Boys" will affect their beliefs, values, and priorities about family, responsibility, and life in the future?
They were in the Sudanese war and were forced to flee from their homes at a very young age, living in refugee camps for all their lives. In the U.S., children have grown up knowing about terrorism but have not known what war is like on their own land. Their beliefs, values, and priorities are going to be focused around family because that is what they had to do in order to survive. They are going to have better coping strategies when faced with comparatively smaller stresses such as driving a car.
Describe age related changes in taste and smell. Describe evidence that declines in taste and smell might be a secondary aging effect.
ability to taste and smell decrease an island off of south america with very little pollution have their sense of smell and taste throughout their life
What is the rationale for ingesting antioxidants in order to slow physical aging?
aging leads to cellular damage due to free radicals so decreasing this damage decreases the rate of aging
Describe age-associated changes in muscle and bone tissue. Describe lifestyle factors that impact muscle and bone health in adulthood.
amount of muscle tissue declines, no gender differences bone loss begins in late 30s, gender differences with exercise and strength training muscle loss is preventable
What interventions have been developed to prevent problems associated with changes in hearing?
effective communication assistive devices
What environmental features should be included in settings designed for older adults in order to prevent problems associated with changes in vision?
eyeglasses flooring lighting color enhancing depth perception driving retraining
Describe steps that promote communication in persons with hearing loss.
face the person lighting is behind you turn off radio/tv speak slightly louder than normal speak at normal rate don't chew food rephrase into shorter sentences avoid crowded, noisy areas
What is noise induced hearing loss (NIHL)? What factors are contributing to the epidemic of NIHL in adolescents and young adults? Why is NIHL considered a secondary aging effect?
it's hearing loss that occurs with injurious levels of noise headphones and loud concerts it is preventable
What interventions have been found to improve sleep? What common interventions have been found to be ineffective?
keeping a constant temperature, routine
Describe cellular theories of aging. Describe implications of these theories for extending the maximum life span.
lifespan is determined by a fixed number of times a cell can divide are cells genetically programmed to self-destruct
Describe common age-associated changes in vision. Describe prevalence rates of vision impairment by age. What causes the specific vision losses that occur with age?
loss of peripheral vision, loss of color vision, light adjustment issues 26 % of people 75 years or older have vision impairment lens clouds with age causing reduced flexibility and yellowish tinge, iris is less able to constrict
What changes occur within the nervous system with advanced age? Do normal age-associated changes in the nervous system have a significant impact on the day-to-day functioning of older adults?
neurotransmitters diminish with age no they do not
What is the Hayflick limit?
number of divisions a cell undergoes is associated with the age of the organism from which it originated
What age-related changes increase the risk of driving accidents?
peripheral vision loss and hearing loss
What primary aging changes occur within the skeletal system? How can lifestyle affect bone health across the lifespan?
primary - bone loss it can lead to osteoporosis or brittle bones
Describe common age-associated changes in physical appearance. Describe primary and secondary age changes that affect the appearance of skin.
primary - wrinkles secondary - sun exposure
Describe rate of living theories. Describe implications of these theories for extending the maximum life span.
rate of living theories are theories centered around the idea that the lifespan is determined by fixed capacity use it and lose it
Describe home modifications one could make in order to reduce the risk of falls.
remove tripping hazards remove throw rugs or secure them use non-slip mats home is well lit and staircases have handrails
What are telomeres? What is the hypothesized role of telomeres in: a) cell division, and b) aging?
sequences of DNA at the ends of chromosomes prevents the chromosomes from losing base pairs and from fusing to each other when it becomes too short, the cell can no longer replicate
What is the dependency ratio? How has the U.S. dependency ratio changed over the past 50 years? What are the economic and social implications of changes in the dependency ratio?
the dependency ratio is the ratio between retirees and people in the workforce the ratio has been decreasing over the past 50 years it is becoming less sustainable to support those who are retiring
Describe the findings from research on the relationship between caloric intake and longevity.
there is a delay in physical development such as the onset of puberty or menopause
Describe age-associated changes in the reproductive system of men and women. How do these changes affect the sexual functioning of adults in late life? What are the main predictors of sexual activity in late life?
women - menopause men - less testosterone there is a gradual reduction in sexual response and it takes both men and women longer to orgasm if they are sexual early in life
Describe age-associated changes in sleep. Is sleep disturbance a normative age-graded factor? Explain your answer.
yes because it is relation to a changing autonomic nervous system that makes disturbances more common due to an issue with regulating body temperature
