Chapter 5- Theory

Question 1

Define a theory (5)

Answer 1

• Set of ideas that explain an empirical finding or observation
• Provides a set of propositions to model how social or physical world operates
• Helps answers why and how questions
• Simulates development and accumulation of knowledge
• Facilitates interventions through development, implementation, and evaluation of policies, services, and programs

Question 2

Define foundational perspectives (4)

Answer 2

• General orientation to developing research questions
• Structural functionalist
• Interpretive
• Conflict

Question 3

Describe the structural functionalist perspective (2)

Answer 3

• Relationship between social structures/institutions and the individual
• Social structure/institutions function together to regulate behaviour so society runs smoothly

Question 4

Describe the social constructionist/interpretive perspective (3)

Answer 4

• Verbal symbolic interactions with others that define social situations
• Form of micro-level, does not consider larger social system
• Symbolic interaction, Phenomenal

Question 5

Describe conflict perspective (4)

Answer 5

• Society is made up of competing groups, changing and dynamic
• If one group has more, others believer that they are exploited and try to gain those resources from the ones in control
• Opposes status-quo
• Marxist, feminist, post-modern, critical

Question 6

What contemporary perspectives and theories also came from foundational perspectives? (4/5)

Answer 6

Perspectives:
Social exchange, postmodern, feminist, life-course

Theories:
Activity, disengagement, age stratification, political economy of aging, critical gerontology

Question 7

Explain the social exchange perspective (2)

Answer 7

• People search for social situations in which valued outcomes are possible and their needs are met
• Social scientist examine past experiences, current needs, values, and options to determine equality of a social exchange relationship

Question 8

Explain the postmodern perspective (3)

Answer 8

• Science and knowledge are linked to social control and power
• Social constructionism: reality is socially constructed and evolves as we interact with others
• Deconstructionism: language is a social concept that must be deconstructed for us to understand the real meaning

Question 9

Explain the feminist perspective and masculinity theory (3)

Answer 9

• Gender can create inequities that advantage men and disadvantage women
• Goal of feminist research are to understand social reality through the eyes and experiences of women and eliminate oppression
• Gender inequities are socially constructed and continued by dynamic social, economic, and political forces

Question 10

Explain the life course perspective (2)

Answer 10

• Analyze the interplay between individual lives and changing social structures
• What happens in on trajectory often has an effect on other trajectories

Question 11

Explain the activity/substitution theory (2)

Answer 11

• Individual adaptation in later life involved continuing an active life
• Continued social interaction maintains self-concept and a sense of well-being

Question 12

Describe disengagement theory (4)

Answer 12

• Voluntary, functional process of older people withdrawing from labour force for younger people to enter
• Results in less interaction between individual and others in society
• Argued that it is not universal, voluntary, or satisfying, and not everyone gets to disengage

Question 13

What is the continuity theory? (3)

Answer 13

• People strive to maintain continuity in their lifestyle
• Criticized to lack consideration of structural constraints, and aging involves both continuity and change
• Stems from symbolic interactionism and functionalism

Question 14

Explain age stratification (3)

Answer 14

• Society is segregated into (young) education, (middle) working, and retirement
• Role allocation or age grading process to gain access to social roles
• Linear or chronological changes in class are only possible

Question 15

What is the political economy of aging? (3)

Answer 15

• Politics and economics, not demography determine how old age is constructed
• Dependency and lower status in age are result of social, political, and economic factors
• Conflict or marxist perspective

Question 16

Explain critical gerontology (3)

Answer 16

• Consists of political economy of aging and more humanistic path based on deconstruction of meanings in communication
• Generated knowledge of what it means to grow old
• All different perspectives have been critical to theoretical understanding

Question 17

What are issues in quantitative research designs? (2)

Answer 17

• Can’t tell whether findings are due to age effects (biological, physical, individual), cohort effects (socio-economic, cultural experiences), or period effects (historical and societal events)
• Longitudinal research requires more time and are more expensive, (trend, different people and cohort analysis; panel, same people and more powerful)
• Representation of sample

Question 18

What are the issues with qualitative research design?

Answer 18

• Based on non-random (convenient) samples, less generalized
• Researchers must avoid preconceptions