Kogan’s Attitudes Toward Old People Scale

Kogan’s Attitudes Toward Old People Scale

• 1 Na It would probably be better if most old people lived in residential units with people of their own age.
  1 Pa It would probably be better if most old people lived in residential units that also housed younger people.
• 2 N There is something different about most old people: it’s hard to figure out what makes them tick.
  2 P Most old people are really no different from anybody else: they’re as easy to understand as
  younger people.
• 3 N Most old people get set in their ways and are unable to change.
  3 P Most old people are capable of new adjustments when the situation demands it.
• 4 N Most old people would prefer to quit work as soon as pensions or their children can support them.
  4 P Most old people would prefer to continue working just as long as they possibly can rather than
  be dependent on anybody.
• 5 N Most old people tend to let their homes become shabby and unattractive.
  5 P Most old people can generally be counted on to maintain a clean, attractive home.
• 6 N It is foolish to claim that wisdom comes with old age.
  6 P People grow wiser with the coming of old age.
• 7 N Old people have too much power in business and politics.
  7 Pb Old people should have more power in business and politics.
• 8 N Most old people make one feel ill at ease.
  8 P Most old people are very relaxing to be with.
• 9 N Most old people bore others by their insistence on talking about the “good old days.”
  9 Pb One of the most interesting and entertaining qualities of most old people is their accounts of their past experiences.
• 10 N Most old people spend too much time prying into the affairs of others and giving unsought advice.
  10 Pb Most old people tend to keep to themselves and give advice only when asked.
• 11 N If old people expect to be liked, their first step is to try to get rid of their irritating faults.
  11 P When you think about it, old people have the same faults as anybody else.
• 12 N In order to maintain a nice residential neighborhood, it would be best if too many old people did not live in it.
  12 P You can count on finding a nice residential neighborhood when there is a sizeable number of old people living in it.
• 13 N There are a few exceptions, but in general most old people are pretty much alike.
  13 P It is evident that most old people are very different from one another.
• 14 N Most old people should be more concerned with their personal appearance; they’re too untidy.
  14 P Most old people seem to be quite clean and neat in their personal appearance.
• 15 N Most old people are irritable, grouchy, and unpleasant.
  15 P Most old people are cheerful, agreeable, and good humored.
• 16 N Most old people are constantly complaining about the behavior of the younger generation.
  16 P One seldom hears old people complaining about the behavior of the younger generation.
• 17 N Most old people make excessive demands for love and reassurance.
  17 P Most old people need no more love and reassurance than anyone else.

a Items are listed in pairs, N representing the negatively worded form and P the positively worded form.
b Revised form of the item used with NU-II sample. The revised items read as follows:
7 P Old people have too little power in business and politics.
9 P One of the more interesting qualities of most old people is their accounts of their past experiences.
10 P Most old people respect others’ privacy and give advice only when asked.