The Construction of Scales for the Measurement of Migration After Retirement

• Published in: Sociometry 1955-11, Vol.18 (4), p.616-623
• Main Authors: Burgess, Ernest W, Hoyt, G Calvin, Manley, Charles R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Economic Factors; Migration; Residential Mobility; Retirement; Scales
• ISSN: 0038-0431; 0190-2725; 1939-8999

Mobility, even among the older age groups, is on the increase in the US. In regard to the older couples this is true for several reasons: developments in transportation, increased econ security, & the weakening of the forces which previously kept the older persons bound to their place of residence. To find the reasons for migration a study was made of a mobile home community in Florida. A selection of 184 men was made from 1,093 dwelling units within the community. These R's were interviewed according to 7 criteria of motivation; climate, health, economics, mobility, activities, relatives, & friends. Responses were scaled on a 5-point scale for the actual presence of a criterion as a motivation force, & also on an intensity scale (5-points) for the weight of the criterion as a motivating factor. In regard to the 2 scales, presence of a criterion & intensity, it was found, comparing 142 retired men, that climate & econ factors were the most important influences on motivation on both scales, & that friends, health, & relatives rated lowest. Comparing those classified as retired with those classified as quasi-retired it was found that: (1) the intensity of climate as a factor was signif more important for the quasi-retired group, (2) econ status was signif higher for the quasi-retired group, & (3) econ factors permit the quasi-retired group to migrate, while the retired group tends to migrate because of lower costs of living. An analysis of the same data by a diff technique yielded identical results except for the criterion of health. The scale for this item was then changed. A comparison of the results of this study with the findings of a similar study confirmed the present findings concerning the influence of economics & mobility, while the other criteria could not satisfactorily be compared. S. Shively.