SDL Readiness and Life Satisfaction Among Ageing Adults - Lab Report Example

? SDL Readiness and Life Satisfaction among ageing adults SDL READINESS AND LIFE SATISFACTION AMONG AGEING ADULTS Introduction Over the past few decades, satisfaction in life has become a vital area of emphasis as far as gerontological research is concerned. Maddox and Wiley (1976) began this focus on ageing research and questions pertaining to social, psychological, economic, and physical status of older adults. These questions have improved understanding of problems and processes of ageing, leading to the development of various strategies aimed at maximizing the potential of their latter years. Self-directed Learning (SDL) has created interest in literature on adult education, fuelled by the SDLRS scale that measures the readiness of a person for SDL. However, not enough research has been done on older adults and self-directed learning. Additionally, accounts on comparisons between older adult life satisfaction and SDLRS have been rare and far in between each other. The intention of this research is examining if the readiness for SDL among the older adults is related to life satisfaction measures. The purpose of this research will be to determine relationships between satisfaction with life and individual propensity for SDL, determination of the extent to which life satisfaction components combine with select variables in the demographic in order to predict self-directed readiness of an individual, and finally to examine substantive and methodological considerations in the study of SDL. Hypothesis Two major hypotheses will be used to guide data analysis, based on the literature review. First, perceptions of satisfaction in life are related to the perceptions of SDL readiness among a sample of adults in old age. Second, subjects derived from a community sample tend to show a higher SDL readiness and satisfaction with life than those living in institutions. Methodology A convenience sample will be drawn from residents in an adult residential house and another sample from a housing project for senior citizens in an adjacent area. The first setting is a facility that offers long-term care for older adults with minimal support needs while the second consists of older adults who are all retired, live alone, and do not require any outside support. A convenience sample is to be drawn, from residential list, to be obtained from both settings. Utilizing a convenience number table, the names of persons are to be selected from each of the settings until fifteen people are obtained from each setting. We anticipate that fewer than ten people will initially respond, from each setting, to the instruments to be used; therefore, names will be drawn from the list until twenty-five people can at least complete the forms. Obtaining a minimum of twenty-five individuals will result in an adequate cross-section of the individuals in terms of residential settings, age, and gender. Design Details Research design This research study will use repeated measures research design with two levels of IV to get repeated measurement of the dependent variable. It will involve gathering information regarding SDL readiness and life satisfaction among the older population residing in two varying residential settings. Manipulation of the variables is possible, with differences determined by the repeated measures, stemming from variations in results, in measurements of gender, age, and residential setting. IV in this research will be life satisfaction to be measured using the SCLSE scale developed in 1981 by Salamon and Conte. It will be divided into two levels: whether the older adult was satisfied with his or her life or not. DV will be SDL readiness to be measured via the SDLR scale. The research will also have moderator variables that determine the relationship extent between two variables that are influenced by the secondary factors (Merriam, 2009). The moderator variables for this study will be residential status, gender, and age. Invitation to Participate Information Invitation to Participate University of *** Department of psychology Study Dear Elder Citizens: Mr/Mrs **** of our Department of Psychology at*** University is conducting a study on the effect of self directed learning readiness on life satisfaction among elder adults, and we would like to extend you an invite to participate in the study. Our research study’s goal is to understand, how elder adults view self-directed learning and how it relates to their level of life satisfaction. We are searching for 65 to 75 year old participants, both male and female, to participate in this study. If you accept to be part of our study, then we will ask you to complete several survey forms with the help from our research assistants. Some of these tasks will require time limits in their completion. The survey will include some interactive sessions and will take approximately forty minutes at your home/ adult residential house. Each participant is to receive a $5 voucher to shop at the local grocer in appreciation. Any information that is considered personal will be kept confidential and anonymous. Any digitally recorded material will only be utilized for the purpose of this research. We will not report personal information specific to you. If you are interested and want to participate or have any questions regarding this research, please contact Adwa (a research assistant in the team) at adwa@ucm.ca.or, and she will directly contact you and schedule research time. Informed Consent Form The University of ***, Department of Psychology, supports the protection of human participants during research. The following should provide information on the experiment that we hope will help you in deciding whether or not to take part. If you do concur to take part, you should be aware that you have the freedom to withdraw from this study at any time during its duration. In this research study, we will ask questions regarding self directed learning and general life satisfaction. If you do not reside in this facility, please inform the research assistant and this study will be ended. Any information given is to remain confidential and will not be appended with your name. Your participation should require approximately forty minutes and the results should be available for you in two weeks if you should need them. You will also be free to seek clarification or ask any questions. Should you have any further questions, please contact us via adwa@ucm.ca.or. Please put your signature on the space below if you accept to participate. Debriefing Note SDL Readiness and Life Satisfaction among elder adults Thank you for participating in this research study. It is our hope that you found it interesting. Please be free to ask any question about what happened during the process. The purpose of this study was to find out if self-directed learning has any effect on the level of life satisfaction among elder adults. Please note that some of the data that we will get from our analysis may be time consuming and lengthy and, as such, the researcher may not give you feedback. All information that has been collected from this study will be kept personal and confidential. While this information may be shared with researchers at other institutions, it will have your addresses and names removed. Any information with regards to your identity is secret. Where found appropriate, the results will be published in a journal, as well be used to design future projects. If you are unhappy with the way you were treated, please contact the research project leader. If something happened to you during the course of this research, contact the ethics committee at the University of *** This study has undergone review and approval by the University of *** Department of psychology Committee on Ethics. Ethics Approval Form 1. What are the objectives of the dissertation / research project? To find out the effects of self directed readiness learning on life satisfaction. 2. Does the research involve; University students, resources or staff? Yes 3. If YES, it is likely that full ethical review must be obtained from the University process before the research can start. No 4. Do you intend to collect primary data from human subjects or data that are identifiable with individuals? Yes 5. What is the purpose of the primary data in the dissertation / research project? The primary data is meant to determine if having self directed learning readiness leads to more satisfaction in life. 6. What is/are the survey population(s)? The survey populations are an adult residential home and a housing project. 7. How big is the sample for each of the survey populations? Each of the settings will have fifteen participants 8. How will respondents be selected and recruited? The respondents will be selected through convenience sampling and recruited through letters of invitation. For the participants in the home, the letter will be sent through the Home’s director. 9. How will data be collected from each of the sample groups? Data will be collected through questionnaires and oral interviews with recorded answers. 10. How will data be stored and what will happen to the data at the end of the research? The data will be entered into computers and stored. At the end of the research, the 11. How will confidentiality be assured for respondents? The respondents will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement that assures them of the confidentiality of the study. 12. What steps are proposed to safeguard the anonymity of the respondents? The questionnaires will not be appended with their names. 13. Are there any risks (physical or other, including reputation) to respondents that may result from taking part in this research? No 14. Are there any risks (physical or other, including reputation) to the researcher or to the University that may result from conducting this research? No 15. Will any data be obtained from a company or other organisation? No 16. What steps are proposed to ensure that the requirements of informed consent will be met for that organisation? How will confidentiality be assured for the organisation? N/A 17. Does the organisation have its own ethics procedure relating to the research you intend to carry out? No 18. Will the proposed research involve any of the • Vulnerable groups (e.g. children)? YES x NO • Particularly sensitive topics? YES NO x • Access to respondents via ‘gatekeepers’? YES NO x • Use of deception? YES NO x • Access to confidential personal data? YES x NO • Psychological stress, anxiety etc? YES NO x • Intrusive interventions? YES NO x 19. Are there any other ethical issues that may arise from the proposed research? No Ethical Considerations In dealing with humans as subjects in the research study, it is imperative to follow a set of ethical APA principles. The principles require the investigator to obtain consent that is informed from all the subjects in the study, treat all the experimental data from the subjects in a confidential manner, protect the subjects from discomfort and harm, as well as explain the results of the experiments, as well as the aim, to the subjects after the research experiment. Before beginning the study, the researcher, will aim to outline to the subjects what this research is all about and then ask for the participant’s consent. The subjects must be given information that ties to the research purpose, length of time, contact address and person in case of emergency, and the procedures involved in the research. The participants must also be debriefed after the study in order to give them a general idea of what they were investigating and the reason for the investigation. References Brookfield, Stephen. (2007). Self-directed learning : from theory to practice. San Francisco : Jossey-Bass. Hoare, Carol Hren. (2006). Handbook of adult development and learning. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Long, Huey. (2009). Expanding horizons in self-directed learning. Norman : Public Managers Center, College of Education, University of Oklahoma. Merriam, Sharan. (2009). Quantitative research: a guide to design and implementation. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Read More