Methodological Appendix

A pilot study containing all nine adjustment categories was conducted by mail among 20 members of the Gerontological Society. On the basis of the pilot study, the final survey design was determined. The nine adjustment mannerisms represent three general types of adjustment: healthy, fair, and poor. Within each of the three broad classifications there are three individual mannerisms. Six forms of the research instrument were developed, each containing a mannerism from each of the three general types of adjustment. (See Figure 1 of the text.) While each mannerism appeared on two of the six forms, no two mannerisms appeared on the same form more than once.