ABSTRACT
The first activity, based on current demographic information about the elderly (Fowles, 1986), is a 15-item questionnaire. I have given this instrument, The Knowledge of the Elderly Quiz, to students in courses on adult development and aging and social psychology (see appendix A). The goal of this activity is to highlight students’ knowledge of demographic data about the aged. After completing the instrument, students are given the key explaining each correct response (see appendix B). I have used this quiz both as a handout to be completed in class and as an out-of-class computer assignment. (A software program for the quiz is available for use with Apple He computer.)
I call the second activity The Aging Stereotype Game. This exercise provides an opportunity for students to explore common stereotypes about the elderly. The class is divided into groups of four to seven. Each group develops a list of 15 to 20 negative stereotypes and a list of a similar number of positive stereotypes about the elderly. I give examples of negative and positive stereotypes (e.g., “All old people are senile.” and “All of the elderly are wise”). At this point, each group chooses a scribe to write down the stereotypes that are generated through group discussion. After all groups have completed their lists, scribes read each group’s list to the entire class. Finally, I lead a discussion that prompts students to identify common themes from the different lists and to examine the* own beliefs.
