| Kommentar |
Emotions are often difficult to describe, and the words we use to describe them may not always be interpreted in the same way as they were meant. Previous studies have shown that emotion words are hard to define and that definitions differ between individuals (Scherer, 2005). Factors like age influence how the valence and arousal of emotion words are rated (Kauschke, Bahn, Vesker, & Schwarzer, 2017). However, many studies produce results that are only two-dimensional. The GRID questionnaire (Scherer, 2005) assesses other aspects of how emotion words are rated. Words we use to describe others can also be interpreted in different manners. For example, terms used to describe an older adult influence how participants stereotype them (Polizzi & Millikan, 2002). It is often the case, especially in research with children, that participants are prompted to think about an individual like their grandparent when they are asked about their views on aging. However, research has shown that individuals describe grandparents more positively, especially when they had a close relationship with their own grandparent (Boon & Brussoni, 1998). At this point, it is not yet known if these “grandparent” prompts influence research findings nor if age influences the definition of emotion words with the GRID questionnaire.
In this Empiriepraktikum, therefore, we want to investigate the effect of age on how individuals define emotion words, as well as to explore how the words we use to label older adults influence our attitudes towards them. By combining these two research topics, we hope to investigate how individuals of different ages (young and old) perceive and interpret the semantic meaning of emotion words on the GRID questionnaire, and how the way we refer to older adults influences the stereotypes directed towards them.
The class will be held in English, including the literature, class discussions, the written proposal and summary report, and the final poster presentations. In the winter semester, when we will develop and plan the study, sessions will be conducted by Dr. Antje Rauers. In the summer semester, when data collection and analysis will take place, sessions will be conducted by Dr. Jennifer Bellingtier. The results will be presented in the form of a poster at the EmPra-Kongress.
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| Voraussetzungen |
Winter semester: Regular attendance, active participation in planning the study, written report (4 ECTS)
Sommer semester: Regular attendance , active participation in conducting the study, poster presentation at the Empra Congress (4 ECTS) |
