Development and validation of the Attitudes toward Education for Older Adults (AEOA) scale |
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| Authors: | Hyejin Kim Neil Abell Leah Cheatham Insu Paek |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Social Work, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA;2. College of Social Work, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA;3. School of Social Work, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA;4. Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA |
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| Abstract: | The purpose of this study is to validate a multidimensional measure assessing attitudes toward education for older adults. As the elderly population and the demands of education among older adults have increased, the engagement of social workers in educational settings for older adults has also increased. Therefore, assessing social workers’ attitudes toward education for older adults is critical to better understand the appropriate circumstances for successfully providing and expanding educational programs for older adults. Using a sample of 227 social work students, a multidimensional scale consisting of 38 items was developed by focusing on the three subconstructs of attitudes: cognition, emotion, and behavior. Across various statistical analyses such as the examination of coefficient α and the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), this scale consistently demonstrated strong reliability and validity. This new reliable and valid scale may contribute to the quality of educational programs for older adults by providing for social workers and other helping professionals with an opportunity to examine their attitudes toward educational services for older adults. |
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