The Gerontologist, Vol 32, Issue 1 17-23, Copyright © 1992 by The Gerontological Society of America

REVIEWS

Aged heterogeneity: fact or fiction? The fate of diversity in gerontological research

EA Nelson and D Dannefer
Loyola College Counselling Center, Baltimore, MD 21210.

Studies examining age-related changes typically report findings as age- based generalizations that neglect the phenomenon of variability in gerontological research. This paper examines the degree of attention given in 185 studies to individual differences and the empirical patterns of variability reported in those studies that present measures of dispersion. Measures of dispersion were reported in 43% of the gerontological studies reviewed and in 24% of the developmental studies. Overall, a majority of all gerontological studies presenting data reported increases in variability with increasing age (65%). This pattern was more pronounced in longitudinal studies than in cross- sectional ones.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Falconer and D. O'Neill Out with "the old," elderly, and aged BMJ, February 10, 2007; 334(7588): 316 - 316. [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Svedberg, M. Gatz, P. Lichtenstein, S. Sandin, and N. L. Pedersen Self-Rated Health in a Longitudinal Perspective: A 9-Year Follow-Up Twin Study J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., November 1, 2005; 60(6): S331 - S340. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Liang, B. A. Shaw, N. Krause, J. M. Bennett, E. Kobayashi, T. Fukaya, and Y. Sugihara How Does Self-Assessed Health Change With Age? A Study of Older Adults in Japan J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., July 1, 2005; 60(4): S224 - S232. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Lundberg, L. Hakamies-Blomqvist, O. Almkvist, and K. Johansson License Suspension Revisited: A 3-Year Follow-Up Study of Older Drivers Journal of Applied Gerontology, December 1, 2003; 22(4): 427 - 444. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Dannefer Cumulative Advantage/Disadvantage and the Life Course: Cross-Fertilizing Age and Social Science Theory J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., November 1, 2003; 58(6): S327 - 337. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. J. LINDQUIST and R. L. ETTINGER The complexities involved with managing the care of an elderly patient J Am Dent Assoc, May 1, 2003; 134(5): 593 - 600. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. F. Hultsch, S. W. S. MacDonald, and R. A. Dixon Variability in Reaction Time Performance of Younger and Older Adults J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2002; 57(2): P101 - 115. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Svedberg, P. Lichtenstein, and N. L. Pedersen Age and Sex Differences in Genetic and Environmental Factors for Self-Rated Health: A Twin Study J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., May 1, 2001; 56(3): S171 - S178. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. McMullin Diversity and the State of Sociological Aging Theory Gerontologist, October 1, 2000; 40(5): 517 - 530. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				N. L. Pedersen, B. Steffensson, S. Berg, B. Johansson, and G. E. Mcclearn The Importance of Genetic and Environmental Effects for Self-Reported Health Symptoms: A 30-Year Follow-Up Considering Survival and Selection Effects J Aging Health, November 1, 1999; 11(4): 475 - 493. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N. Krause Assessing Change in Social Support During Late Life Research on Aging, July 1, 1999; 21(4): 539 - 569. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K.-f. M. Cheung Effectiveness of Social Work Treatment and Massage Therapy for Nursing Home Clients Research on Social Work Practice, March 1, 1999; 9(2): 229 - 247. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Berg and C. Dellasega The Use of Psychoactive Medications and Cognitive Function in Older Adults J Aging Health, February 1, 1996; 8(1): 136 - 149. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. M. Berry and R. L. West Cognitive Self-efficacy in Relation to Personal Mastery and Goal Setting across the Life Span International Journal of Behavioral Development, June 1, 1993; 16(2): 351 - 379. [Abstract] [PDF]