Attitudes and Perceptions about the Elderly: Current and Future Perspectives

Research on attitudes and perceptions of the aged is critically reviewed. Problems with early survey research methods such as lack of generalizability, susceptibility to demand characteristics, and inattention to psychometric quality are discussed. Recent studies are examined in terms of characteristics of the stimuli and contexts, and characteristics of the perceivers employed in them. Methodological and conceptual issues in these three categories are used to organize the body of research that exists. Suggestions are made for future research in which the use of multiple measures in specific contexts is emphasized.