Evaluation and Research

Generations Together conducts extensive evaluation and research in support of its programs and as a basic component of its mission as an intergenerational studies program. Increasingly, GT is also providing evaluation and research services to other institutions and agencies.

Evaluation

Generations Together's evaluations are project-specific and provide staff and funders with information about a project's implementation, impact, and outcomes.

 In addition to improving program quality, evaluations contribute to reports that are disseminated locally, regionally, and nationally. The reports describe models that can be adopted by intergenerational programs in other communities.

 In recent years, Generations Together has expanded its external evaluation services. GT staff evaluate other intergenerational programs, consult with groups on evaluation strategies, and conduct intergenerational evaluation workshops.

 For example, from 1993 to 1995 Generations Together provided evaluation assistance to seven Administration on Aging-funded intergenerational programs around the United States. In early 1995, GT began evaluation on a five-year, state-wide intergenerational project in South Carolina.

Research

Generations Together's research explores questions arising from programs and from issues inherent in the intergenerational field. The research is funded separately from GT programs, but often utilizes program participants as subjects.

 GT's on-going research program generates knowledge in areas of interest to intergenerational studies and program professionals. GT makes maximum use of its location within the University Center for Social and Urban Research, access to faculty and graduate students, and extensive experience in the intergenerational field.

 In most research projects, Generations Together staff partner with university faculty. Graduate students assist with data collection and analysis. Doctoral students associated with Generations Together conduct intergenerational research for their dissertations.

 Recent research efforts include:

  • National studies on older adults working in child care related to retention and attrition, impact on child care, and employers' views of older workers.
  • Studies on the effect the presence of children has on older adults with Alzheimer's Disease.
  • A study of the effect of volunteering in schools on the everyday memory of older adults.
Generations Together also contracts to provide research for other agencies, consults with intergenerational groups on research strategies, and conducts conference seminars on intergenerational research.

 Among the agencies for which Generations Together has provided research services are the American Association of Retired Persons and the Metropolitan Jewish Geriatric Center in New York City.

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