Handout: Attitudes about Teens

Instructions: Please complete each one carefully and completely.

Task: Interview volunteers of various ages about their attitudes toward today’s teens. You are to pick one person from each of these age categories and compare their responses to the survey questions below. *For this assignment you should have a total of five (5) interviews and a written summary.

Age Category 1: 18 – 24
Age Category 2: 25 – 39
Age Category 3: 40 – 55
Age Category 4: 55 – 69
Age Category 5: 70+

Instructions:

1. Identify and interview a person from each age category.
2. Administer the survey to them, being sure to answer the demographic questions about each
   participant. Do not include their name.
3. Instructions for written summary: In a 1-2 page summary, compare and contrast the answers
   you receive to the survey items. How do the individuals from each age group answer the
   questions? Do most individuals answer the questions the same? Does any particular age group
   answer the questions totally different from the others? (These are just some questions to get you
   started. Please outline other similarities and differences.) What would you say are the
   reasons for the differences among the age groups? Also, pay special attention and note
   answers related to the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of this age
   group utilizing specific terminology from the text. For example, a participant’s opinion that
   teens/adolescents are self-absorbed or focused on themselves would be an example of
   egocentrism discussed in the text.
4. To take things a step further, you may also interview at least 2 people from each category
   to compare and contrast their answers. Does each person answer the questions the same,
   etc. (Number 4 is Optional)

Please note that you have to also include the written summary, not just the completed surveys to get full credit for this assignment.
Attitudes about Teens

Sex: _ Age: Education (highest level completed): Marital Status: Occupation: __________

Answer yes or no to the following questions and explain your answer choice.

1. _ Adolescents should spend more time in school.
   Explanation:
2. _ Adolescents should have to work for their extra money.
   Explanation:
3. _ Adolescents should not be allowed to work because they take jobs away from people who are trying to support a family.
   Explanation:
4. _ Adolescents should be required to do volunteer community service.
   Explanation:
5. _ Most adolescents are sexually active.
   Explanation:
6. _ Adolescents should not be given birth control to prevent pregnancies.
   Explanation:
7. _ Most adolescents waste a lot of time.
   Explanation:
8. _ Adolescents account for most of the crime in my community.
   Explanation:
9. _ Adolescents are fun and I enjoy their company.
   Explanation:
10. _ I remember my adolescence as the best time of my life.
    Explanation:
11. _ Most adolescents are careless drivers.
    Explanation:
12. _ Most adolescents of voting age don’t take advantage of their right to vote.
    Explanation: