Second Longitudinal Study, 1980

Creator:
Duke University. Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development.
Scope and content:

The Duke Longitudinal Studies began in 1955; the last round of data collection was in 1974. There were two Duke Longitudinal Studies. The first began in 1955 and the second in 1968. The first Duke Longitudinal Study, although groundbreaking, was of poor quality by recent standards, as it relied on a convenience sample of volunteers, the measuring tools were primitive, and the data were stored in a manner incompatible with even long outdated statistical packages. The Second Duke Longitudinal Study (SDLS) was of much better quality. The sample was representative of all but the most poor and marginalized. The measuring instruments were much better. The data were converted to be analyzable with modern statistical software. The SDLS enrolled approximately 500 adults, age 45-75 at baseline with approximately equal numbers of men and women. Data collection was extensive. Study participants spent two full days at the Center for the Study of Aging and completed extensive interviews of demographic and social variables; they were administered a variety of psychological tests, including memory tests and a personality inventory; physical health data were obtained via an assessment performed by a physician. At the time of the study, the SDLS was the most comprehensive and interdisciplinary in the field. The SDLS data were a goldmine. It generated nearly 500 articles in scientific journals and two highly-cited books: "Normal Aging II" and "Normal Aging III". ("Normal Aging I" was based on the First Duke Longitudinal Study.) Material dates to 1980.

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This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals or IRB approval may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which Duke University assumes no responsibility.
Contains Medical Center Administrative records. These include records of the officers of the University, as defined in the Bylaws, the deans of schools and colleges, and departments, institutes, and other offices as designated by the President. For a period of twenty-five years from the origin of the material, permission in writing from the director of the office of record and the Medical Center Archivist is required for use. After twenty-five years, records that have been processed may be consulted with the permission of the Medical Center Archivist. (Issued by the Office of the Chancellor, December 1, 1975).
Materials in boxes 95, 96, 97, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, and 139 are restricted and can only be accessed with the permission of the Medical Center Archivist.
Boxes 94, 98, 109, 113, 114, 115, 116, 119, 120, 125, 128, 129, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 146, and 147 contains materials restricted at the folder level and must be screened for sensitive or confidential materials before being accessed.
For further information consult with the Medical Center Archivist..

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