Applying a Sociological Perspective to Aging Applying a sociological perspective to aging involves realizing that as individuals we are located within society.

As such, larger social structures and processes shape the way in which individuals experience the course of aging and old age. In this assessment, you will conduct a Life History interview of an elderly person, and using the sociological perspective write a research paper explaining how individual experiences of the interviewee have been and continue to be shaped by larger social processes and structural forces.
Learning Objectives:
Conduct a life history interview, transcribe the interview, and analyze the data.
Describe social structures that exist and major life events that occurred in an aging person’s life at various stages throughout the life course.
Explain the role of social structures in shaping the older person’s life experiences.
Apply a sociological theoretical paradigm to the life history.

Applying a Sociological Perspective to Aging Assignment Instructions

Part 1: Data Collection and Analysis
This involves the following steps:
a. Life History Interview
Choose a subject to interview that is at least 65 years old. This could be a friend of the family, someone that you work or volunteer with, or even a family member.
Acquire consent from your subject by: i) informing them of the nature of the research including any risks involve, what the results will be used for and how they will be presented; and ii) obtaining their signature on a consent form.
Using the interview questions and procedure developed, conduct an interview with your subject
Take notes and record the interview to capture the information.
b. Transcribe the Interview
-Type the recorded interview into a Word document (.docx).
-Offer the transcript to the subject to review. Incorporate corrections / comments provided by the subject.
c. Analyze the Data
-Identify patterns and themes that emerge from the telling of major life events and social context.
-Choose a theoretical paradigm that expands and deepens the understanding of the life history.
Part 2: Write a Research Paper
Drawing on information collected from the interview and current sociological academic research, write a research paper that addresses how individual experiences of the interviewee have been and continue to be shaped by larger social processes and structural forces.
The paper should be approximately 1500-2000 words in length (5-6 pages double-spaced, not including title page and reference page).
Include at least 4 sociological academic peer reviewed sources + textbook.
Include and define all relevant sociological concepts and sociological theory from the course material in your discussions.