Could you help with research?
Posted on 27th July 2010
SEVENTY IS THE NEW FIFTY, BUT IS THIS REFLECTED IN CONTEMPORARY BRITISH FICTION?
Please email Joan Walker on J.B.Walker@lboro.ac.uk if you can help withher research.
Participant Information Sheet
Joan Walker. Main Investigator (Doctoral student in Creative Writing) Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU email eajbw@lboro.ac.uk Tel +44 (0)1332 853 966
Kerry Featherstone. Supervisor (English and Drama Department) Loughborough University, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU email K.Featherstone@lboro.ac.uk. Tel +44 (0) 1509 222928
The purpose of this study is to investigate how writers and members of the publishing industry have responded to the recent demographic changes in society regarding amorous relationships between partners of similar age, starting or continuing over the age of sixty five.
The reason for this research is that Joan Walker’s novel, EXEUNT, written as part of her research, depicts protagonists whose passionate or compassionate love continues sexually well into their old age. Joan is in her late seventies, and curious to know why she has not found any contemporary British full-length novels reflecting what medical journals or non-fiction books have been stating for some time – that the definition of old age is changing as society enters a longevity revolution.
The results of the study will be written up as part of Joan Walker’s doctorial thesis. If you have any questions please contact her.
If for some reason you are not happy with how the research has been conducted, the University has a policy relating to Research Misconduct and Whistle Blowing which is available online at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/committees/ethical/Whistleblowing(2).htm.
The Questionnaires (one will be sent to publishers, the other to writers) are brief and should not take up too much time to complete.
Participants are asked to complete the relevant questionnaire and Informed Consent Form, and to note that they are able to withdraw from the study at any time by contacting the main investigator.
