This dissertation is concerned with the problem of scientific assumptions as it relates to research in gerontology. There are three major areas emphasized in the thesis. First, there is a consideration of the epistemological conditions that give rise to the problem of assumptions and meanings in science. Secondly, a number of different ways of addressing this issue are discussed and an alternative Hermeneutic approach is explicated. This approach constitutes a particular kind of philosophical analysis and is suggested by the insights of Hans Gadamer. Finally, on the basis of the Hermeneutic approach, two major characterizations of research on adult and gerontological intellectual and social competence are identified, namely, a restricted and an expanded picture. In addition, these two characterizations are further clarified by means of a discussion of the contrasting ontological orientations that are presupposed in the restricted and correspondingly, in the expanded picture. The overall purpose of the thesis is to show that a particular kind of philosophical inquiry assists in the integration of disparate forms of research in psychosocial gerontology. In addition, this procedure provides conceptual support for a different understanding of various phenomena associated with human aging that is emerging in the field, namely, the expanded picture. / Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies / Graduate

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Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / A move toward care of residents in nursing homes where they are respected and heard is finally emerging. Common strategies used in nursing homes to improve quality of care for residents are integration of person-centered care and assessing care using satisfaction surveys. Although approaches of integrating person-centered care and satisfaction surveys have been valuable in improving nursing home quality, strategies of care that include things that matter from residents’ perspectives while living in nursing homes need investigation. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe things that residents age 65 and older state matter to them while living in the long-term care sections of nursing homes. A qualitative mode of inquiry using purposeful sampling led to a natural unfolding of data that revealed things that mattered to residents. Content analysis was used to reduce the data in a manner that kept the data close to the context yet moved the data toward new ideas about including things that mattered to residents in nursing care. The findings revealed residents’ positive and negative experiences and addressed the question: How can nurses manage residents’ positive and negative aspects of care in nursing homes? This study substantiated the importance of developing nursing care strategies derived from residents’ descriptions of care. Finding ways to promote nurses’ investment in attitudes about a person-centered care philosophy is essential for successful person-centered care implementation. Enhancing nurses’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes with an investment in person centeredness will be more likely to put nurses in a position to role-model care that is person-centered from residents’ perspectives.