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For further assistance on library resources and research with your assignment, ask at the Belzberg Library Reference Desk or contact Nina Smart, Liaison Librarian for Gerontology ( or nsmart@sfu.ca) .
"This course entails a comprehensive interdisciplinary study of families and aging. In addition to providing an overview of theory and research in this topic area, a variety of issues are will be examined, including: families in mid-life, sibling relationships, divorce and remarriage, relationships in later life, care-giving, inter-generational relations, elder abuse, end of life concerns, current studies and policy development."
[Note: for further information see the GERO 408 page on Canvas. If there are discrepancies between information listed on this page and that in Canvas or instructor handouts, please refer to the latter.]
Term paper resources
Organizing and writing your paper:
Start Your Research Here
for an overview of the research process
In brief: Select your topic; Identify sources and research tools; Search for and find your articles and books; Evaluate Steps; Write and cite
See also the "How to research a term paper" section of Aging: Concepts and controversies [print]
for gerontology-specific research
In addition:
Academic writing resources (from the Library's Student learning Commons "SLC")
Including consultations and videos, as well as tips and handouts. Example: How to Write an Annotated Bibliography
Service for writing feedback: WriteAway service for SFU students
"Qualified tutors...provide feedback on students' draft writing assignments"
Lead time is a minimum of three days for this very popular, BC-wide service
Consultations (SLC)
including one-on-one writing consultations and option for online consultations
Citation:
Gerontology uses the APA style: APA citation guide should cover the types of resources
Assignment Calculator (SLC)
Determine when should you start your term paper research and writing, and how long would it take
Background Information
For topic overviews, defining key terms, and suggested useful resources:
Family Ties and Aging [online]
Sample chapters/sections: "Sibling relationships" ; "Childless older persons" ; "partner transitions and step-ties"
Handbook of families and aging [online]
Sample chapter: "Ethnic and cultural diversity"; "Elder abuse in aging families"
Handbook of sociology of aging [online]
Sample chapter: "Intergenerational Relations in Later-Life Families" covers conflict
Gerontechnology : understanding older adult information and communication technology use [online and print]
Technology:descriptions of different types of older adult ICT users
Finding Journal articles
Guides:
How to find journal articles
beyond the Library Search box
Power searching and Boolean searching
catalogue search tips, but they apply to searching databases too
How can I read the fulltext of an article? See the guide:
From Article to Citation for how to obtain a journal article from an article citation or reference, and more
For more details about journals, see the guide What is a scholarly (or peer-reviewed) journal?
Finally, a general search string for gerontology searches:
seniors OR elderly OR "older persons" OR "older adults" OR "older people" OR gerontolog* OR aging
To find journal articles for your term paper, start with one of these databases:
Ageline
The major social gerontology database - start with this database for most class topics
Sample Subject search terms: Intergenerational relationships ; Family relationships ; Pets ; Boomerang children ; Dying etc.
sample search phrase: "Family relationships" AND (technology or social media or internet)
Note: Ageline doesn't use the term "peer-reviewed" so you can Limit your results to "Academic Journals"
Sociological Abstracts includes "marriage and family studies"
Sample Subject terms: Elderly ; Family Relations ;
Can limit results to "Peer reviewed"
Humanities and Social Sciences Index (HSSI)
Sample Subject term: Older people -- Family relationships
Can limit results to "Peer reviewed"
CBCA Complete
Canadian content. News and popular magazine articles as well as academic journal articles. Sample Subject: Aging
You can Limit results to "peer reviewed" articles
Books
Sample subject headings from the catalogue:
- Family Policy
- Grandparents
- Minority older people -- Canada
- Older people -- Canada -- Family relationships
- Older people -- Canada -- Social conditions
- Older people -- Family relationship
- Social Work With Older People
To find more books, search SFU online Catalogue; search tips are on SFU Library Catalogue Search Guide.
Other useful sites
Statistics:
Fact book on Aging in B.C. and Canada (8th Edition, 2023)
Statistical overview, published by SFU's Gerontology Research Centre (GRC)
Report on Health and Aging in Canada (2018)
Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) Covers demography, retirement, social engagement, caregiving, health, lifestyle, transportation and LGB
See also: Sociology Information Resources
SFU guide for research in Sociology
Back to Gerontology information resources