Comparative ageing research: A flourishing field in need of theoretical cultivation

被引：27

作者：

Tesch-Römer C. ^{[1
,2
]}

von Kondratowitz H.-J. ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] German Centre of Gerontology, Berlin

[2] Deutsches Zentrum für Altersfragen, Berlin 12101

来源：

European Journal of Ageing | 2006年 / 3卷 / 3期

关键词：

Comparative research; Cross-cultural comparisons; Culture; Methodology; Theory;

D O I：

10.1007/s10433-006-0034-0

中图分类号：

学科分类号：

摘要：

Comparative ageing research is a flourishing field, partly because of European funding in this area. Comparing different societies and cultures seems especially fruitful for the analysis of societal and cultural factors in development over the life course. From a nomothetic perspective, the aim of comparisons is the search for similarities and communalities in different societies and cultures; from an idiographic perspective, researchers are looking for societal and cultural specificity and distinctiveness. However, the potentials of comparative ageing research are not fully realized for the time being. In many cases, there is little theorizing as to whether there should be differences (or similarities) in ageing processes across countries, societies, or cultures. This paper discusses theoretical aims and ambitions of comparative ageing research in general. Comparative theories are sketched which could serve as a basis for comparative ageing research, and ageing theories are discussed which could be modified to be used in comparative research. The rationale of comparative ageing research is described and illustrated through empirical examples. Epistemological and methodological pitfalls (problems of conceptual, operational, functional, and measurement equivalence) are a substantial obstacle to comparative ageing research. Hence, merits and limitations of comparative designs and sampling procedures are considered. © Springer-Verlag 2006.

引用

页码：155 / 167

页数：12

共 73 条

[1]

Attias-Donfut C., Ogg J., Wolff F.C., European patterns of intergenerational financial and time transfer, Eur J Ageing, 2, pp. 161-173, (2005)

[2]

Baltes P.B., Theoretical propositions of life-span developmental psychology. On the dynamics between growth and decline, Dev Psychol, 23, pp. 611-626, (1987)

[3]

Baltes P.B., On the incomplete architecture of human ontogenesis: Selection, optimization, and compensation as foundation of developmental theory, Am Psychol, 52, pp. 366-381, (1997)

[4]

Handbook of Theories of Aging, (1999)

[5]

Bengtson V.L., Rice C.J., Johnson M.L., Are theories of aging important? Models and explanations in gerontology at the turn of the century, Handbook of Theories of Aging, pp. 3-20, (1999)

[6]

Ben-Shlomo Y., Kuh D., A life course approach to chronic disease epidemiology: Conceptual models, empirical challenges and interdisciplinary perspectives, Int J Epidemiol, 31, pp. 285-293, (2002)

[7]

Berry J.W., Culture, Encyclopedia of Psychology, pp. 392-400, (2000)

[8]

Bingenheimer J., Raudenbush S.W., Statistical and substantive inferences in public health: Issues in the application of multilevel models, Ann Rev Public Health, 25, pp. 53-77, (2004)

[9]

Blakely T., Woodward A., Ecological effects in multi-level studies, J Epidemiol Community Health, 54, pp. 367-374, (2000)

[10]

Borsch-Supan A., Hank K., Jurges H., A new comprehensive and international view on aging: Introducing the "survey of health, ageing, and retirement in Europe, Eur J Ageing, 2, pp. 245-253, (2005)

← 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 →