Chronological Age in Relation to Attitudinal Judgments: An Experimental Analysis1.

This study utilized an experimental format to examine the influence of age designations upon differential ratings of a stimulus person. Two experiments were conducted—one in a college-age population (N = 280); the other in a grouping of older, retired adults (N = 96). In both settings, subjects heard a recorded discussion by a SP described as being either 25 or 65 years of age. Ratings were made on the 32-item aging semantic differential of Rosencranz & McNevin. The data reveal a slight but nonsignificant tendency for younger subjects to rate an older SP more positively on the scales in question than do the older subjects. In the case of actual age judgments, however, all subjects, regardless of age, reflect a tendency (again, not statistically significant) to rate the younger SP more positively than the older individual. In and of itself, chronological age appeared insufficient to control strongly a pattern of judgment relative to a SP. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]