Department of Human Development

                                       Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

 

               HD 5114:  Adult Development & Aging II: Interpersonal Issues (Index 2391)

 

                                                                    Spring, 1999

 

Instructor:                     Dr. Rosemary Blieszner                         Office:              313 Wallace Hall

Office Hours:                M 4-5, Tu 10-12, F 8-10                         Phone:              231-5437

                                    or by appointment                                  E-mail:              rmb@vt.edu

Course listserv:              HD5114@listserv.vt.edu

 

ÞAny student with special needs or circumstances should feel free to meet with me to arrange appropriate accommodations.

 

Course Description

 

This is the second of a two-semester sequence designed to introduce students interested in gerontology to individual and interpersonal aspects of development in adulthood and old age. The first semester provides an overview of selected biological, psychological, and sociological aspects of development; the second focuses on family and other interpersonal relationships.

 

Educational Objectives

 

Having successfully completed this course, the student will be able to:  (a) understand how humans age normally with regard to their interpersonal relations and social roles; and (b) comprehend and apply the empirical literature dealing with intimate relationships, alternative life styles, and critical life events of aging.

 

Required Texts

 

an adult development and aging textbook (if you have not taken FCD 5104, SOC 5714, or equivalent

 

Adams, R. G., & Blieszner, R. (1994). An integrative framework for friendship research. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 11, 163-184. (on reserve in Newman Library)

 

American Psychological Association. (1994). Publication manual (4^th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

 

Blieszner, R., & Bedford, V. H. (Eds.). (1995). Handbook of aging and the family. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. (Paperback edition is 1996, Aging and the Family: Theory and Research, Praeger).

 

Hansson, R. O., & Carpenter, B. N. (1994). Relationships in old age. New York: The Guilford Press.

 

Bibliography (on reserve in Newman Library)

 

Schedule, Discussion Leaders, and Reading Assignments

 

Special events that can enhance your educational experience are indicated by * below. FCD/ADA majors and candidates for the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology are expected to attend all Gerontology Forum presentations.

 

Date     Leader                          Topics and Activities                                                                            

 

1/18      RB       Introduction of the course and class members. Selection of discussion leader date/topic.

 

1/25                  Class will not meet formally. Class time will be used for acquiring background information and preparing discussion questions (see below). The instructor will be available for individual consultation as needed, either during class time or later in the week.

 

                        Read a basic adult development and aging text if you have not taken a prerequisite course. You are expected to understand principles of life span development and of adult development and aging in terms of biological changes/health issues, psychological development (cognition, personality, mental health), adult transitions, person-environment interactions, work and retirement, etc.

 

                        Read the APA Manual, pp. xxv-60. MEMORIZE pp. 23-60. Skim pp. 61-318. APA style must be followed strictly in all written work. I am referring not only to proper citation and bibliographic style for references, but also to matters of expression of ideas, grammar, etc. in the body of the paper. Hence, you must MEMORIZE pp. 23-60. I am NOT kidding!

 

                        Read the first 4 chapters of the Hansson and Carpenter book.

 

*1/27                Sigma Phi Omega Initiation Ceremony, 5:00-7:00, Hillcrest Living Room

Speaker: Ms. Tina King, Program Director, New River Valley Agency on Aging

“The Virginia Coalition on Aging’s Platform for the General Assembly Session”

 

*1/28                Gerontology Forum, Dr. Graham Rowles, University of Kentucky

7:30, Wallace Atrium, Topic: “Being in Place”

 

2/1        RB       The Critical Role of Relationships in Old Age: H&C 1-4

 

2/8        RB       Relationship Competence in Old Age: H&C 5-7

 

2/15                  1:00-3:00, Exam 1, H&C 1-7

            RB       3:15-3:50, Orientation to Handbook: B&B Foreword, Preface, Ch. 1

 

*2/18                Gerontology Forum, Dr. Sara Qualls, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
                        7:30, Donaldson Brown Auditorium, Topic: “Cognitive and Sensory Changes in Old Age”
                        NOTE: Dr. Qualls is author of Ch. 23 in the Handbook

 

2/22      _____  Historical and Demographic Background: B&B 2-3

            _____  Individual Development and Relationships: B&B 5

           

*2/22-28           Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, St. Louis

                        Theme: “Blending Pedagogy and Technology: The Virtual Classroom of the 21^st Century”

 

*2/26-27           Southeastern Conference on Family Relations, Atlanta

                        Theme: “Strengthening Families Through Policy, Prevention, and Programs”

 

3/1        _____  Family Theory and Family Gerontology: B&B 4

            _____  Methodological Issues: B&B 8

 

3/8                    Spring Break

 

3/15      _____  Feminist and Leisure Theories: B&B 6-7

 

*3/16                Gerontology Forum, Dr. Neal Castagnoli, VT, Dept. of Chemistry

                        3:30, Fralin Auditorium, Topic: “Parkinson’s Disease and Aging”

 

3/22      _____  Marital and Sibling Relationships: B&B 9-10

 

3/29      _____  Parent-Child & Grandparent Relationships: B&B 11-12

 

4/5                    Exam 2, B&B Foreward-12

 

*4/7-10             Southern Gerontological Society 20^th Anniversary Meeting, Atlanta

                        Theme: “Thinking Forward, Looking Back”

 

*4/8-10             Quint States Graduate Student Conference, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

 

4/12      _____  Policy & Legal Issues: B&B 13-14

            _____  Ethnic & Rural Diversity: B&B 15-16

 

4/19      RB       The Special Case of Friendship in Old Age: A&B, B&B 17

            _____  Retirement & Chronic Illness: B&B 18-19

 

4/26      _____  Dying & Bereavement: B&B 20-21

           

5/3        _____  Relationship Interventions: H & C 8-10, B&B 22-23

 

5/7                    Friday, 1:05-3:05, Exam 3, H&C 8-10, A&B, B&B 13-23

 

*5/13                Gerontology Forum & Graduate Certificate in Gerontology Commencement Ceremony

                        Dr. Eleanor Stoller, Case Western Reserve University

                        7:00, Fralin Auditorium, Topic: “Gender and Diversity in Later Life”

 

Requirements

 

Students enrolled for a letter grade or Pass/Fail will complete all requirements. Audit students will complete all assigned readings and participate in class discussions.

 

Class Participation (20% of final grade)

 

1.         Students are expected to attend class regularly, complete and summarize assigned readings in advance of each class meeting, and contribute scholarly insights to the discussion.

 

2.         For each chapter/article, prepare a well-thought-out one-page (typed, single-spaced) statement that includes a commentary on salient points, an integration with your own research interests, and questions or issues you will raise for discussion in class. For example, be prepared to discuss the theory, methods, applied implications of research, and future research directions for each topic. Hand in summaries weekly (except the week you are discussion leader).

 

Discussion Leader (50% of final grade)

 

1.         Prepare a set of questions to guide the reading and discussion of each of your assigned chapters/articles. The questions should highlight the main issues with respect to theory, research methods, findings, and future research questions for your topics. They should not be written at the lower levels of cognitive activity (recall, recognition) but rather at the upper levels (analysis, synthesis, comparison/constrast, evaluation, application).

 

            ALL QUESTIONS ARE DUE ON FEB. 1. You will receive feedback via email, after which you will revise the questions as necessary and prepare them for distribution to the class on Feb. 8. (10%)

 

2.         Read current journal articles on your topics to gain additional expertise in this area. Prepare an outline of the material you wish to cover and other learning aids as you see fit (e.g., overhead transparencies, role play, video, case study, etc.). Hand in a comprehensive set of notes for your presentation and a bibliography of the additional readings on the day of your presentation. (20%)

 

3.         Lead the class discussion on the assigned readings, based on the questions you developed. Begin with some background information on the chapter authors (education, current position, areas of research/publication) to provide a context for understanding their work. Be sure to cover theory development in the focal topics, research methods used and a critique of them, key findings, and challenges for future research. Employ whatever learning exercises or activities that you deem useful for enhancing comprehension and application of the material. Divide the time between your assigned areas appropriately (20%)

 

Exams (10% of final grade each)

 

1.         In-class, closed-book essay exams covering the material indicated above. If you have completed the class participation requirements conscientiously, you should need only light review of your summaries and class notes for these exams, not major studying.

 

2.         Evaluation criteria: accuracy of describing and explaining key concepts from the course readings, ability to apply concepts to novel relationship issues, extent of integrating relevant gerontology principles, degree of synthesis across readings

 

HONOR CODE STANDARDS APPLY TO ALL ASSIGNMENTS