Change in Beliefs about Older Drivers through Applied Theater

Abstract

To address the highly-complex and emotionally-charged nature of issues concerning older drivers, we engaged in the development and evaluation of a research-based applied theater production. A quasiexperimental pretest–posttest group design was used to assess change in attitudes and beliefs, derived from social science theories, of older drivers and other stakeholders. After viewing the play, older adults showed decreases in their positive attitudes toward driving and intention to continuing driving. The findings for the older adults appeared to be driven by the responses of the women in the group. Stakeholders showed no change in attitudes about older drivers. Data collected two weeks after the play was viewed confirmed that audience members found the play informative and that it promoted discussion about the topic. The findings from this study provide important new information about how exposure to an applied theater production brings about attitude change.

Acknowledgments

The data reported in this article were collected as part of the project funded through the Standard Research Grants Program of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (File No. 410-2007-1810). Some of the information contained in this paper was presented at the International Federation on Ageing 10th Global Conference, Melbourne, Australia (May 2010). We would like to thank the play-building team: Dr. Warwick Dobson; Dr. Monica Prendergast; Trudy Pauluth-Penner; Yasmine Kandil; Anne-Marie Cirillo; John Krich; Reid Sparling; Lauren Jerke, consultant; Dr. Phyllis McGee and the older adults and others with an interest in older driver safety from the communities of Victoria; Parksville/Qualicum; Courtenay/Comox on Vancouver Island; and the BC Psychogeriatric Association. Without the participation of these people and organizations this study would not have been possible.

Notes

Note. *includes legal services (n = 1).