The place of theatre in representations of ageing

Author(s):  
Miriam Bernard ◽  
David Amigoni ◽  
Ruth Basten ◽  
Lucy Munro ◽  
Michael Murray ◽  
...  

Despite increasing evidence that continued engagement in creative activities is beneficial as we navigate later life, we still know comparatively little about what participation in theatre, and specifically in theatre-making, means to participants. This chapter presents selected findings from a detailed interdisciplinary case study of one particular theatre - the Victoria/New Victoria Theatre in North Staffordshire - in the lives of older people. The chapter describes how the project took shape; how each of its three strands (archival, interview and performative) developed; and how its rich and complex data set has been used: with a focus on articulating the place of the theatre in people’s lives, and on their understandings of its role in relation to ageing and later life.

2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 1477-1501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Goode ◽  
Nancy Crego ◽  
Michael P. Cary ◽  
Deirdre Thornlow ◽  
Elizabeth Merwin

Researchers need to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of data sets to choose a secondary data set to use for a health care study. This research method review informs the reader of the major issues necessary for investigators to consider while incorporating secondary data into their repertoire of potential research designs and shows the range of approaches the investigators may take to answer nursing research questions in a variety of context areas. The researcher requires expertise in locating and judging data sets and in the development of complex data management skills for managing large numbers of records. There are important considerations such as firm knowledge of the research question supported by the conceptual framework and the selection of appropriate databases, which guide the researcher in delineating the unit of analysis. Other more complex issues for researchers to consider when conducting secondary data research methods include data access, management and security, and complex variable construction.


2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1119-1145 ◽  
Author(s):  
MIRIAM BERNARD ◽  
MICHELLE RICKETT ◽  
DAVID AMIGONI ◽  
LUCY MUNRO ◽  
MICHAEL MURRAY ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTDespite the growing interest amongst gerontologists and literary and cultural scholars alike, in arts participation, ageing and the artistic outputs of older people, comparatively little attention has yet been paid to theatre and drama. Likewise, community or participatory theatre has long been used to address issues affecting marginalised or excluded groups, but it is a presently under-utilised medium for exploring ageing or for conveying positive messages about growing older. This paper seeks to address this lack of attention through a detailed case study of the place of one particular theatre – the Victoria/New Victoria Theatre in North Staffordshire, England – in the lives of older people. It provides an overview of the interdisciplinaryAges and Stagesproject which brought together social gerontologists, humanities scholars, psychologists, anthropologists and theatre practitioners, and presents findings from: the archival and empirical work exploring the theatre's pioneering social documentaries and its archive; individual/couple and group interviews with older people involved with the theatre (as audience members, volunteers, employees and sources); and ethnographic data gathered throughout the study. The findings reaffirm the continuing need to challenge stereotypes that the capacity for creativity and participation in later life unavoidably and inevitably declines; show how participation in creative and voluntary activities shapes meanings associated with key life transitions such as bereavement and retirement; and emphasise the positive role that theatre and drama can play as a medium for the inclusion of both older and younger people.


1999 ◽  
Vol 175 (4) ◽  
pp. 340-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. M. Copeland ◽  
Ruoling Chen ◽  
Michael Dewey ◽  
C. F. M. McCracken ◽  
Chris Gilmore ◽  
...  

BackgroundRisk factors of depression in later life, particularly for sub-cases and for psychotic and neurotic types of depression, are unclear.AimsTo identify such risk factors.MethodOver 5200 older people ($65 years), randomly selected from Liverpool, were interviewed using the Geriatric Mental State (GMS)and the Minimum Data Set (MDS). The computer-assisted diagnosis AGECAT identified 483 cases and 575 sub-cases of depression and 2451 with no mental problems. Logistic regression was employed to examine factors relevant to caseness.ResultsIn multiple logistical regression, odds ratios (ORs) were significantly high for being female (2.04, 95% CI 1.56–2.69), widowed (2.00, 1.18–3.39), having alcohol problems (4.37, 1.40–2.94), physical disablement (2.03, 1.40–2.94), physical illness (1.98,.1.25–3.15), taking medications to calm down (10.04, 6.41 −15.71), and dissatisfaction with life (moderate 4.54, 3.50–5.90; more severe 29.00, 16.00–52.59). Good social networks reduced the ORs. If sub-cases were included as controls, the statistical significance was reduced.ConclusionsAge was not associated with depression in later life whereas gender, physical disablement and dissatisfaction with life were. The sub-cases shared many risk factors with cases, suggesting that prevention may need to be attempted at an early stage.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 2351-2376
Author(s):  
Liam Foster ◽  
Mark Tomlinson ◽  
Alan Walker

AbstractThis article explores the relationship between Social Quality and income in later life and represents the first application of the concept to a United Kingdom data-set with an explicit focus on older people. In order to undertake this analysis, confirmatory factor analysis models are employed in conjunction with the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS). This enables various dimensions or domains of Social Quality to be measured and then subjected to further scrutiny via regression analysis. Initially, the paper explores links between low income, poverty and older people, prior to outlining the concept of Social Quality and its four conditional factors. Following the methodology, the impact of income on Social Quality domains is explored. We identify that differences in income in older age provide a partial explanation of differences in individual Social Quality. While there is a statistically significant relationship between income and certain aspects of Social Quality such as economic security, altruism, social networks and culture/participation, other factors such as health, identity and time did not have a statistically significant relationship with income. This indicates that improvements in the income of older people are likely to positively impact on aspects of their Social Quality. Finally, some policy implications of the finding are outlined with particular reference to the potential role for pensions in enhancing aspects of Social Quality in retirement.


1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 273 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Bergstrom ◽  
C. E. Tweedie

A conceptual, hierarchical model for the study of epiphytes in complex rainforest ecosystems is illustrated. The model incorporates an integrative, multidisciplinary approach with ecological parameters compartmentalised into relevant spatial, temporal and organisational scales. The model can be applied to other spatially complex ecosystems such as coral reefs. An example showing the use of the model is presented. The natural abundance of 15N in three species of epiphyte growing on one tree is examined. In this pilot study, interpretation of a complex data set has been aided by the use of a hierarchical approach. A high degree of spatial heterogeneity in the nitrogen pool within the tree was found, with epiphytes accessing at least three sources of nitrogen: an atmospheric source, a nitrogen fixed source and the phorophyte itself through decomposed litter.


1983 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-322
Author(s):  
Edward F. Howard
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
Michael W. Pratt ◽  
M. Kyle Matsuba

Chapter 7 begins with an overview of Erikson’s ideas about intimacy and its place in the life cycle, followed by a summary of Bowlby and Ainsworth’s attachment theory framework and its relation to family development. The authors review existing longitudinal research on the development of family relationships in adolescence and emerging adulthood, focusing on evidence with regard to links to McAdams and Pals’ personality model. They discuss the evidence, both questionnaire and narrative, from the Futures Study data set on family relationships, including emerging adults’ relations with parents and, separately, with grandparents, as well as their anticipations of their own parenthood. As a way of illustrating the key personality concepts from this family chapter, the authors end with a case study of Jane Fonda in youth and her father, Henry Fonda, to illustrate these issues through the lives of a 20th-century Hollywood dynasty of actors.


Author(s):  
Michael W. Pratt ◽  
M. Kyle Matsuba

Chapter 6 reviews research on the topic of vocational/occupational development in relation to the McAdams and Pals tripartite personality framework of traits, goals, and life stories. Distinctions between types of motivations for the work role (as a job, career, or calling) are particularly highlighted. The authors then turn to research from the Futures Study on work motivations and their links to personality traits, identity, generativity, and the life story, drawing on analyses and quotes from the data set. To illustrate the key concepts from this vocation chapter, the authors end with a case study on Charles Darwin’s pivotal turning point, his round-the-world voyage as naturalist for the HMS Beagle. Darwin was an emerging adult in his 20s at the time, and we highlight the role of this journey as a turning point in his adult vocational development.


2003 ◽  
Vol 42 (05) ◽  
pp. 564-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Schumacher ◽  
E. Graf ◽  
T. Gerds

Summary Objectives: A lack of generally applicable tools for the assessment of predictions for survival data has to be recognized. Prediction error curves based on the Brier score that have been suggested as a sensible approach are illustrated by means of a case study. Methods: The concept of predictions made in terms of conditional survival probabilities given the patient’s covariates is introduced. Such predictions are derived from various statistical models for survival data including artificial neural networks. The idea of how the prediction error of a prognostic classification scheme can be followed over time is illustrated with the data of two studies on the prognosis of node positive breast cancer patients, one of them serving as an independent test data set. Results and Conclusions: The Brier score as a function of time is shown to be a valuable tool for assessing the predictive performance of prognostic classification schemes for survival data incorporating censored observations. Comparison with the prediction based on the pooled Kaplan Meier estimator yields a benchmark value for any classification scheme incorporating patient’s covariate measurements. The problem of an overoptimistic assessment of prediction error caused by data-driven modelling as it is, for example, done with artificial neural nets can be circumvented by an assessment in an independent test data set.


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