(K)+We+Help+Researchers

=Research is our Goal...=

**__effect on memory in the young and elderly.__**
As part of my undergraduate degree in psychology, I am completing research on the effect of different eye movements, on memory performance in the young and elderly. I am looking for participants aged between 18-25 and 55-95 and you are invited to participate.

Below is detailed information about the research, so you can decide whether you would like to participate or not.

Current research on the effect of eye movements on memory performance, has involved adults or young people, using words as stimuli. This research aims to replicate these findings and extend this topic area to the elderly, using pictures. Specifically this research aims to compare the effect of different eye movements on memory performance of pictures and also see whether its effect on memory, if any, differs between young and elderly people.
 * __Aims:__**

Prior to participation a consent form must be completed. You will then be presented with four picture cards and given 30 seconds to look at each and memorize the pictures. Within this time you will also be asked to name every picture. You will then be asked to complete a number sequence task, which you will have to try and remember and write down. One of three eye movement tasks will then be completed, which will involve you looking at a computer screen for thirty seconds and following a dot with your eyes, which is moving in different directions. Immediately after, you will try and remember as many of the pictures you previously saw, within a two minute time frame. You will be asked to complete this process three times, each time involving different pictures and eye movements. This process will take approximately thirty minutes.
 * __Procedure:__**

There are no known risks with participation in this research.

All information and data collected will be anonymous and confidential. Participant data will contain no individual information and data belonging to individual participants will be given a numerical digit, so responses cannot be traced back to individual participants. The data will be stored in a secure and locked filing cabinet and also on computer hardware, which is password protected. Only the researcher and research team will have access to the data. Individual data will not be used independently and will be combined with other participant’s data and analysed to be included in a research paper.

Your participation is on a voluntary basis, so you are under no obligation to participate in this research. If your decision is to participate, you can withdraw at anypoint before or during the research and also for two weeks following participation, without any consequences or questioning.

If any of the following does apply to you then unfortunately you will be unable to participate in this research:
 * __Exclusion Criteria:__**
 * If you have a neurological disorder such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.
 * If you take any psychoactive medication (medication effecting brain functioning).
 * If you are ambidextrous (can write with both hands).

Please keep this sheet for your information.

If you decide you would like to participate, or have any further questions please contact:

Researcher: Megan Bennett Kent House, Chancellors Wharf, Aldcliffe Road, Lancaster. LA1 1WB.

07523071770 m.bennett@lancaster.ac.uk

Supervisor: Dr. Trevor Crawford Fylde College, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster. LA1 4YF

01524 593761 t.crawford@lancaster.ac.uk

Head of Department: Professor Charlie Lewis Fylde College, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster. LA1 4YF

01524 593822 c.lewis@lancaster.ac.uk

A Recent Research Project...

 * MEMORY AND LEARNING IN LATER LIFE: experience, improvement and learning from others [Facilitated by Dr Keith Percy]**


 * AN INVITATION** to participate in an exploratory programme on memory and learning which will form part of a European Union Grundtvig-funded programme involving older people from Athens, Frankfurt, Krakow, Rome, Szeged (Hungary) and, of course, Lancaster and district.

Anybody 50 years or older
 * WHO CAN BE INVOLVED?**

It is for a discussion-based international programme which will draw out the experience of participants, explore and reflect upon it and draw conclusions. It will be concerned with participants’ understanding and perceptions of memory; their feeling and concerns about memory; and the various tricks, devices and mnemonic procedures which they may have developed to support memory. It will consider memory in literature, art, film, advertising, humour and advertising. It will ask if participants think that they have any scientific knowledge about memory and explore where this comes from. Because this is an international programme, participants as a group will be encouraged to discuss material coming from similar groups in the other countries and consider possible cultural differences. In later meetings, discussions will turn to identify what seem to be the most positive and useful understandings of memory for older people, what devices and procedures are most useful in aiding memory and what are the implications for ways of learning in later life. The twin outcomes of the programme should be lasting benefit for each individual participant and a Handbook on Memory in Later Life which will be disseminated internationally. Meetings will be friendly, interactive and informal. No prior knowledge will be assumed.
 * WHAT IS IT FOR?**

The programme will run between December 2012 and June 2014. In total there will be between 12 and 15 meetings. A meeting will last for between 1 to 1.5 hours and probably be on Wednesday mornings. The first three meetings will be at Lancaster University; venue thereafter can be discussed. There will be two introductory meetings on December 12 and in mid January. There will be another meeting in late January /early February. Actual dates will be agreed at the meeting on December 12th. There is an international project meeting in Frankfurt in mid February to which the content of the Lancaster discussions will be reported. Thereafter, Lancaster meetings will take place in phases of two or three meetings, working on material and discussing ideas to be sent forward to the international meetings (which will take place at intervals of three or four months).
 * WHAT IS INVOLVED and WHEN WILL IT BE?**

We hope that a participant will attend all the meetings but recognise that this may not always be possible. At the very least we would hope that, having embarked on one of the project phases of two or three meetings, each participant will complete that phase. We are aiming at a group size of 12-15 persons at each meeting.
 * WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT?**

One or two of the Lancaster participants will be invited to attend a project meeting at each of Frankfurt, Szeged, Rome or Athens – all expenses paid. We shall discuss in the early meetings how the decision of whom should receive the invitations will be made. There will also be an optional internet- based discussion group for participants from the six different countries. The language to be used in international meetings and in the internet group will be English.
 * COULD I BE INVOLVED INTERNATIONALLY?**

Nothing. Participation in the sessions is, of course, free. Because the sessions are part of a funded project, your local travel expenses to the meetings (including car-parking) can be refunded.
 * WHAT WILL IT COST ME?**

Please email Professor Keith Percy at k.percy@hotmail.com or contact a CLG Steering Group member to register your interest. You can email the CLG directly at seniorlearners@lancaster.ac.uk
 * WHAT DO I DO NOW IF INTERESTED?**

[KAP 3/12/2012] [DAP (amendments) 13/1/13]

Below is an article taken from the NIACE (National Institute of Adult Continuing Education) magazine 'Adults Learning' - Feb 2011 Volume 22 Number 6.
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Organisation Based Research
** Peer Education End of Life Care Group ** - Three members of the CLG Steering Group belong to this group. This is a group of older volunteers attached to Lancaster University who raise awareness of end of life care. This group has developed a portfolio which allows people to write down plans for their future care.

** The Research Partners Forum ** - Three members of the CLG Steering Group take part in this group. This is a group of older service users, carers and academics. It is funded by CECo. The group meets monthly and comments on health related research proposals submitted by researchers. you can contact the Research Partners Forum here:

http://research-partners-forum.wikispaces.com/

**EFORTT- Telecare Focus Group** - Eight members of the NLA group took part in these focus groups. One NLA member attended the EFORTT Conference in Barcelona in September 2010. This group, led by academics at Lancaster University explored attitudes to (and experience of) new technology for older people. This information was compiled for use in future research and design in technology based care/monitoring.

**CESAGen - The Criminal Gene** – Senior students were interviewed as part of a research project organised by CESAGen, a collaborative research centre based at the universities of Lancaster and Cardiff.

**Lancaster** **Literacy Research Centre – Changing Literacies, Changing Technologies –** Seven members of the SLP acted as researchers in a group project looking at project into digital use/non use by older people which was run by Professor Mary Hamilton in 2008. The group presented their findings at several local, national and international conferences and seminars.

**Lancaster University Department of Physics – Effects of Ageing on the Healthy Heart –** A number of senior students took part in Dr Alan Bernjak’s research project for the Department of Physics here at Lancaster into ageing and the heart.

Members of the CLG have also contributed data to PhD studies in:


 * Memory and Recall (Psychology)
 * Blood Borne Viruses (Social Sciences)
 * Physiological Responses to Music (Music)
 * Eye tracking and Alzheimer’s Disease (School of Health and Medicine)
 * Grandfather Identity (Geography)

===If you are carrying out research of any kind and feel that we could help you, then contact us via seniorlearners@lancaster.ac.uk and we will be happy to consider taking part.===