GERO 822 Families, Communities and Health

For further assistance with your assignment, ask at the Belzberg Library Reference Desk or contact Nina Smart, Liaison Librarian for Gerontology (778.782.5043 (Tuesdays and Thursdays) / nsmart@sfu.caMonday to Thursday at Belzberg Library or Ask a Librarian

Course description

This course critically evaluates and synthesizes key theory, research, and health promotion policy related to the intersection of aging families, communities and health. The principal theoretical perspectives will include: life course theory and social, human and cultural capital; social ecological models; political economy; and participatory community empowerment approaches. Topics include: definitional, conceptual and methodological challenges to studying families, communities and health; community development models and healthy lifestyles; ethno-cultural dimensions of families and communities and their impact on health status and health care utilization; social support and vulnerability; care giving and intergenerational family relationships and well-being; tailoring health promotion programs for urban and rural areas; and healthy public policy for age-friendly neighborhoods and communities.  For further information, see the course outline and Canvas (if applicable).

Literature review information

(also known as research paper)

Literature reviews for graduate students
SFU Library guide

A real-life Gerontology example: Grief and bereavement support for staff in long-term care homes: A scoping review (21-23)

Power searching and Boolean searching
These search tips are just as useful for databases as for the catalogue, and are a must for anyone doing advanced searching, e.g. scoping reviews

Database quick search tips, or things you can't always do in Google:

  • truncation, e.g. transport* and phrase searching e.g. "food sovereignty"
  • syntax: AND to narrow and OR  to broaden search
  • pearl-growing, or starting with a good article and finding more (see YouTube tutorial)
  • search the database's Thesaurus to find useful subject headings
  • Keep in mind research is generally not a straight line, but iterative searching
  • More search tips in How to find journal articles

Citation management software and tools
This page includes links to workshops, an introductory video if you can't make one of the workshops;  contact citation-managers@sfu.ca for assistance or to request a consultation.
Note: The software mainly used at SFU is Zotero, but others are mentioned

Journal article databases

To find journal articles, search the following databases:

Ageline
Major social gerontology database; the Ageline guide discusses advanced search techniques starting p. 10

Poquest Sociology Database
Sociology research, including family studies. Include terms in search such as Older People or Aging.
Note: As it is a full-text database like a newspaper database, change the search from "Anywhere" to "Anywhere except fulltext" to decrease results but increase relevance 

Canada Commons
Canadian health and public policy documents, an excellent source for grey literature

Political Science Complete
Political science research articles

Books

Family ties & aging [online and print]
Overview on the different relationships in the lives of older adults, including intimate partners, immediate family members, and intergenerational family.

Handbook of families and aging [print and online]
Textbook providing a variety of discussions on different aspects and issues within families specifically in relation to older adults.

To find books, search the SFU Library Catalogue. Sample subject headings include:           

Other useful pages

Program Evaluation in Gerontology
GERO 450 course page

See also: Sociology Information Resources
SFU subject page, including course page: Sociology of Families  (SA 231) 

Student-led seminar

Giving Effective Presentations
tips from SFU's Student Learning Commons

Voice and Presentation Skills
SFU's Centre for Educational Excellence (CEE) has workshops for SFU faculty, staff, and graduate students

Research Commons

Partnering "with graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty to build research capacity, community, and expertise across disciplines." The main Research Commons page has links outlining services, workshops and consultations, and bookable study rooms.

Writing services offered by the Research Commons 
including the excellent Read Ahead service, writing consultations and Thesis Writing Group online

Thesis assistance: Templates and resources for preparing and submitting your thesis  
including their Templates link