Date of Award
12-1-1974
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Psychology
Abstract
The present study was designed to examine the variables which affect attraction in a senior citizen population. In particular, variables which have been shown to affect attraction in younger persons were examined as to their relevancy to older subjects. It was predicted that a stranger’s age, sex, and proportion of similar attitudes would have a significant effect on a senior citizen's attraction rating of the stranger.
A stranger’s age, sex, and proportion of similar attitudes were varied according to a 3 (proportion of similar attitudes) X 3 (age of stranger) X 2 (sex of stranger) factorial design. Male and female senior-citizen subjects responded to attitude surveys representing the age, sex, and attitudes of the hypothetical stranger. The subject’s response was completion of a rating scale of his attraction toward the stranger based on the information in the attitude survey.
It was found that only the proportion of similar attitudes had a significant effect on a senior citizen's attraction rating of a stranger. Age and sex of the stranger had no significant effect and none of the interactions among the variables reached significance. It was also found th^t the sex of the subject had no effect on his attraction rating of the stranger.
Further research was suggested to study the use of paper and pencil techniques with older subjects.
Recommended Citation
Westphal, Carl R., "Attraction of a Senior Citizen to a Hypothetical Stranger as a Function of the Stranger's Age, Sex, and Attitude Similarity" (1974). Theses and Dissertations. 3424.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/3424