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DATA COLLECTOR TRAINING GUIDE

FOR

RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Juliette Shellman, Ph.D., APHN-BC

University of Massachusetts Lowell

Title of Study: Why and When Older Blacks Think About the Past

Principal Investigator: Juliette M. Shellman, Ph.D., APRN-BC

Overview of the study:

The overall purpose of this study is to test the psychometric properties of the Modified Reminiscence Scale (MRFS) (Washington, 2002). The specific aims include: 1) to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Modified Reminiscence Function Scale, 2) to examine associations between demographic variables and reminiscence functions in older Blacks, and 3) to describe the patterns, and functions of reminiscence in community-dwelling older Blacks.

Research Questions:

1) What is the reliability of the Modified Reminiscence Functions Scale when used with a sample of older

Blacks?

2) Does the MFRS seven-factor model extrapolated from preliminary research conducted with a

convenience quota sample of Hispanics, Asians and African-Americans fit into the data

collected from Black older adults?

3) What are the patterns and functions of reminiscence in older Blacks?

4) Are there relationships between demographic variables and the functions and patterns of reminiscence in

older Blacks?

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Participants who are willing to complete a demographic form and the Modified Reminiscence Function Scale are eligible to participate in this study. Inclusion criteria include the following: 1) community-dwelling, 2) African-American or Caribbean Black, 3) English speaking and, 4) age 55 or older.
  • In this study African-American is defined as persons having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. Caribbean Black is defined as persons who self-identify as Caribbean Black, and answer affirmatively that their parents or grandparents were born in a Caribbean country.

Instrumentation

Demographic Form: Self-reported demographic data regarding age, gender, medical diagnoses, medications, and social supports will be collected from the participants. Each of these characteristics is mentioned in the literature as having a possible association with depression in elders. The demographic data form for this research study was developed by the PI.

Modified Reminiscence Functions Scale (MRFS) The MRFS (see Appendix C) developed by Washington is a 48 item scale that includes the following seven factors: 1) self-regard, 2) death, 3) bitterness, 4) intimacy, 5) boredom reduction, 6) teach/inform, and 7) conversation. Likert scoring for each item ranges from never = 1, rarely = 2, sometimes, = 3 often = 4 to very often = 5. Items from each subscale are summed and divided by the number of items which produces a score for each subscale. The higher the score, the more frequently the participant reminisces for that function. Each subscale represents a negative or positive reminiscence function. The (MFRS) was tested using a convenience sample of 261 with ethnicity as a stratifying variable. The wording of the scale is at the 5th grade reading level and Cronbach’s alpha was reported as .94 (Washington, 2003).

Maintaining the Quality of the Data

Points to remember:

  1. Read all instruments to participants to ensure understanding and consistency.
  1. Collect data in an environment free from distractions.

3. Other environmental issues:

select quiet, well-lighted room, warm and free from distractions, if at all possible let participant select room

sit directly in front of clientplace yourself about 3-4 feet from the participant unless hearing is an issue

avoid sitting in front of the window to avoid glare - it is important for the participant to see you

older adults may read your lips to compensate for hearing loss so positioning yourself is very important

  1. Use the same order of administration of instruments with each participant.
  1. Observe participant throughout data collection. STOP immediately if you note the participant to become anxious, fatigued, or distressed.
  1. Avoid missing data at all costs!
  1. If you find for some reason to be missing data, obtain the following information:
  2. What caused the missing data?
  3. What can be done to prevent this in the future?
  4. Is there cause for protocol revision?
  5. Can you still attempt to collect the data?
  1. We will need to make copies of the consent form.
  1. Identify and record any problems or variables that you think may have interfered with the data

collection process in your journal - do this as soon as you can. Often the most valuable data is collected from your observations of the environment and participant.

10. Please remember that the participants can choose to stop at any time during the process and

withdraw from the study. The participants must complete the survey to receive the gift card.

To the Data Collector:

Please read all questions/surveys to the participants.

Administer the instruments in this order:

Researcher Field Notes (Observations, comments etc):