Unit 3 Assignment
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Literature Review: Optimal Aging
Literature Review
This literature review will form the research foundation for your final project, the Psychogerontology Comparison Report on optimal aging. You will incorporate this literature review into your draft of the comparison report in Unit 7 and, after adding revision suggestions, into the final version of the comparison report in Unit 9. When you incorporate the literature review into the comparison report; however, you will be expected to expand upon what you did earlier.The initial Unit 3 version of the literature review is, for the most part, a summary of the sources and why they are important for optimal aging. The literature review in the comparison report (Units 7 and 9) needs to reflect both summary and synthesis of the information gathered.
Assignment Directions
In the literature review, you will explore primary and secondary age-related changes in psychological processes, cognitive functions, personality, and interpersonal relationships. You will research articles to include health-related resources (mental or physical), social resources, physical activities, recreational activities, social media, environmental resources, or any activity (such as volunteer activities) or resource that leads to successful, optimal aging.In your literature review, include the following:
- Explain characteristics of older adults who age successfully and optimally.
- Explain the environment that supports successful and optimal aging, such as activities, programs, and organizations that help older adults age optimally and, therefore, lead to a better quality of life.
- Describe how these activities help caregivers provide support for older adults.
- Identify where these services and resources are most likely to be located (consider financial and technology resources).
- Discuss how the aging process is impacted by disease and disability.
- Include how acute or chronic conditions impact cognitive function and personality.
- Analyze the major theories that link cognitive function and personality with the development and sustainment of interpersonal relationships.
There is more than one approach to incorporating the material or information you find such as:
- New interpretations of existing information, elaborating on current information, illustrating an understanding in a given area, or even evaluating the value of the literature reviewed.
- For example: Is there enough scholarly literature? Is the literature good? Is the literature current? What is needed in the literature?
Assignment Structure
The literature review needs to include a minimum of eight articles from peer-reviewed journals. In addition to the eight articles, you may include two reliable resources from the Internet.
- Provide a brief summary (at least five sentences) of the article or other source. Your summary information needs to be explained concisely, accurately, and objectively.
- Provide an additional evaluation of the source in terms of its usefulness and relevance to your final report.
- Provide an additional discussion of the source in context with the other sources being used for the report. For example, does your source refute or confirm your findings from other sources?
Submission Requirements
Written Communication: Exemplify master’s level critical thinking and analysis in your paper. Do not just present a summary of the readings. Objectively evaluate and report on the findings of your research materials and the readings from the course.
- Write professionally by making points that are logical, substantive, and relevant based on the presented evidence, as well as free of errors that detract from the overall message.
- Clearly identify in your paper where you are addressing each grading criterion or part of the assignment.
- Create written communications that are respectful and appropriate to the purpose, context, and audience.
- Apply the conventions of the APA style guide and formatting in written communications.
- Generate communications that are clear, organized, concise, and use correct grammar and mechanics.
- Your paper should be double spaced using Times New Roman, 12 point. The paper must be a minimum of seven (7) full pages in length not including the title page, abstract, and references list.
Refer to the Literature Review: Optimal Aging Scoring Guide to ensure that you meet the grading criteria for this assignment. Review the distinguished criteria to earn possible optimal points.Note: Your instructor may also use the Writing Feedback Tool to provide feedback on your writing. In the tool, click the linked resources for helpful writing information.
Resources
- Toggle Drawer
[u03d1] Unit 3 Discussion 1
Well-being and Life Changes
As Cavanaugh and Blanchard-Fields (2015) remind us, retirement and the loss of a spouse represent two of the most significant nonphysiological changes to a person’s life. For this discussion:
- Use the Capella University Library or the Internet to locate two articles that further discuss the effects of either of these events, retirement and the loss of a spouse, on older adults.
- Post summaries and discuss the articles in your initial posting.
Please remember, this is discussion, but it is scholarly discussion. As such, your posts need to reflect having read and applied the course material. Your discussion posts (initial and peer response posts) should contain in-text citations and a reference list, and follow APA style and format.
References
Cavanaugh, J. C., & Blanchard-Fields, F. (2015). Adult development and aging (7th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.
Response Guidelines
Read the postings by other learners and respond to at least two by engaging with the observations being made. Compare the summary and discussion of the articles to your own findings and elaborate on what points can be taken when considering both articles.Some questions to consider in your response may include (but are not limited to):
- How relevant is the article?
- From what theoretical perspective do the researchers of the article seem to be proceeding?
- Are there other theories or perspectives that could be considered?
