Studied whether middle-aged adults' attitudes toward the aged could be changed through specially designed educational experiences. The adults' attitudes toward older persons changed significantly in a positive direction following the workshop experience, while those in the control group decreased. It was concluded the workshop had a significant…

Examined the factual accuracy of youngsters' knowledge about older people and the moderating effect on knowledge level resulting from differences in age/education, sex, racial origin, and experience living in a household with an older person. Findings revealed a negative bias toward older people by all three age/educational level groups. (Author)

Studied the perceptions, expectations, and attitudes toward aging among students of religion and their graduate counterparts by means of structured interviews. Results revealed students had more positive attitudes toward young than old people, relatively low gerontological knowledge, and negative biases toward the aged. (RC)

A modification of Palmore's Facts on Aging Quiz was given to 954 students in grades 3, 6, 9, and 12. Adolescents showed positive attitudes and children showed negative attitudes toward older adults. Hispanic adolescents were more negative than Whites or Blacks. There was no relationship between weekly contact with older adults and accurate…

BSW and MSW students randomly completed one of two vignettes that were identical with the exception of the age of the vignette's subject. Following the vignette, respondents responded to 16 bio-psycho-social assessment and intervention items relating to health, illness, aging, and death. The multivariate analysis of variance was significant…

Assessed the effectiveness of three techniques for changing college students' attitudes toward aging in a positive direction. Found direct experience with the elderly to be the most effective workshop technique. (Author/ABB)

Students (n=46) in a graduate gerontology course, ranged in age from 23-77; 32 were aged 36-55. They were positive about age diversity and its contributions to learning. None of those under 36 would apply age restrictions to admission; 13 of 38 older students would. A sizeable minority would discriminate against older students in awarding…

An understanding of adulthood educational participation should be developed according to a criterion of environmental and situationally dependent factors rather than solely to one of inexorable and cross-situational biophysical decline. Environmental and organismic factors that may relate to chronically low rates of educational participation by…

Discusses the American system of higher education and its relationship to older people. Proposes the university has not traditionally responded to the needs of older people because of its inherent youth and occupational orientation. Suggests a more innovative response to the educational needs of older people be taken. (Author)