ERIC Number: ED042939
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1969
Pages: 14
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How Age-Biased Are Counselors of Adults?
Troll, Lillian E.; Schlossberg, Nancy
A study was made to determine the extent of age bias among counselors working with adult clients in educational settings. An Age Norms Inquiry questionnaire was sent to counselors in 55 urban colleges and to members of the Adult Development Guidance Association (186 of 381 questionnaires were returned). Age bias was operationally defined as preference for completion of selected developmental tasks at earlier age levels. While no uniform opinion with respect to age norms and constraints was shown, and more than half of the respondents showed some age bias (50%+ bias on 19 of 32 items and over 75% on 5 items), there were a sizeable number who were vigorously opposed to any suggestion of age norms and who would fight for counseling each individual case on its own merits. Women counselors were generally less age biased but no other counselor characteristics measured (age, counseling experience, or training) showed any significant correlation with age bias. The division of items into family, general, and vocational-educational categories also did not relate consistently to the bias found. (Two tables of response data and the questionnaire used are included.) (DM)
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