Understanding the role computer utilization plays in the lives of older adults has been studied closely throughout recent years. The personal well-being of older adults (older than age 62) is determined in this study by whether or not technology is implemented in the lives of older adults. This research examined how often technology, specifically computers and cell phones, is used by older adults to keep in contact with children and grandchildren, and the level of ease they perceive when using said technology. Two local community retirement homes in Seattle, Washington were visited, Hilltop House Retirement Community and Council House Retirement Home. A survey was distributed asking the older adults how easy they perceived using computers and cell phones to be. How often modern technology is used for communication with children and grandchildren was measured based on if the older adult could easily use computers and cell phones, or if they were encouraged to use this technology by family members. Our findings show that ease did not significantly relate to the net total usage of technology by older adults. Encouragement from the family of the older adult to use cell phones was found to be a significant predictor in how often it was used by the older adult, whereas encouragement to use a computer was not significant. It was found that usage of technology becomes easier for older adults who have access to their own technology through deals like cell phone family plans. Much is being done to train older adults how to use such technology earlier in their lives, which will help increase perceived ease of usage in old age. Studies like this will provide gerontologists with information to successfully integrate new technology into the lives of the growing generations of older adults.

I am one of four research assistants working with Dr. Kathleen Ross.  Dr. Ross is commited to establishing an institute for student identity and success (ISIS) at Heritage University. The institute will focus on first-generation, low-income college students as their retention rates are lower. First-generation, low-income post-secondary students are the fastest growing college population. We feel there is adequate research information available to improve the graduation rates of these new majority students. The research we use will be in the form of books, articles and websites along with interviews from faculty and students. In the past 30 years our country has experienced a downturn in college graduation rates per capita. As a result of this trend we now have this new majority of students. More than 50% of PhD's working in America today are foreign born.  If our country is to regain its educational excellence, this new majority must have higher graduation rates. Through research, we are compiling a list of changes that need to be considered in university policy and practices of the new majority.  Through our research we have discovered many studies and surveys that contain invaluable information.  We are conducting focus groups of our own, interviews with faculty and staff and surveys of our student body. We hope to identify the key issues that impede success. We will then be able to establish an institute to help any faculty member better serve the new majority. 

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether cortisol levels and heart rate correlate with different types of music. Previous studies have shown that music can raise or lower the “stress” hormone, cortisol. This project examines how (1) the tempo of music and (2) the lyrics in music might modify cortisol levels. The first study focuses on the tempo of music by using music without words. I hypothesize that faster tempos will raise cortisol levels while slower music will lower them. The second study focuses on the lyrics of music examining whether cortisol levels will vary depending on the message and meaning of the lyrics. To test these hypotheses, 60-70 participants will be split into two groups. The first group will include 30 individuals listening to slow for 20 minutes and then after an hour break listening to fast music. The second group will include 30 individuals listening to music with happy lyrics a and then after an hour break listening to music with angry lyrics. Participants will collect saliva specimens before, during, and after listening to music. . There are many studies and theories as to why music is so important for humans yet the biological connection to music is not simple or well understood. This study examining how cortisol and heart rate react to music can not only help identify biologically, physiologically based stress reduction protocols but may provide insight into why music is so important for humans.