APPROACH TO A PROBLEM OF AGE IDENTITY MEASUREMENT

Abstract

The article is devoted to the theoretical review of the most often used methods of person’s age identity measurement. It is clearly stated that rating of collective identity based on whether to used social category for self-categorization, on value of that social group for person, on one’s perception as a typical representative of that social group, on one’s confidence in self-identification. Most often in empirical studies of person’s age identity measurement is used two different methods: direct questions about person’s age and method of semantic differential. Scientist approached the chronological age, subjective age, ideal (wishful) age, satisfaction of age, satisfaction of subjective age, attitudes toward aging process through the use of direct questions. Estimation of different aspects of person’s age can be done through exact among of years or age categories. Method of direct questions simplifies the procedure of acquisition empuric data. Howewer method of direct questions can oversimplifies the phenomenon of age identity. Answers of examinee to direct questions can be corrupted by widespread in society nefative age stereotypes towards certain age groups, by ideas about social acceptable answers at that direct questions etc. Method of semantic differential used for measuring concepts about different age groups and self either. Obtained data could be treated by the statistical techniques and the results could be assessed as degree of age identity. As things stand, specialist scale of person’s age identity does not exist. Construction of specialist scale of person’s age identity as curent prospect of future scientific studies was noted.

Keywords: collective identity, age identity, chronological age, subjective age, ideal age, semantic differential

Accepted: 09.03.2020

Reviewed: 28.03.2020

Published: 03.04.2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31108/3.2020.4.1.9