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Open-ended attributions for the performance of the elderly
1Department of Psychology, Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA 17701.
International Journal of Aging & Human Development
|January 1, 1993
Summary
People often link age with other factors when explaining men's success or failure, rather than just age alone. This study examined age-related attributions in social and academic contexts.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Attribution Theory
- Gerontology
Background:
- Understanding how individuals explain success and failure is crucial in social psychology.
- Age is often a salient characteristic, influencing social perceptions and judgments.
- Previous research has explored attributions but less is known about age-specific attributions in varied contexts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate open-ended attributions for success and failure in younger versus older men.
- To determine if attributions combine age with other factors (age-related attributions) or focus solely on age.
- To compare attributions related to ability-task interaction versus ability alone.
Main Methods:
- A between-subjects design was employed with 109 college students.
- Participants provided open-ended attributions for hypothetical scenarios.
- Attributions were systematically coded using the established Elig and Frieze scheme.
Main Results:
- Respondents favored age-related attributions over those solely based on age.
- Attributions involving ability-task interaction were more common than those citing only ability.
- Attributions for elderly men's success and failure were equally likely.
Conclusions:
- Age is frequently integrated with other factors in attributional processes.
- Ability-task interactions are a significant component of attributions.
- Future research should independently assess stability, age-related, and ability-task attributions.