Evidence Library

Abstract:

This report describes how a group of older people became involved in a three-year large-scale research project on housing. It gives an account of how the older people were trained and the experiences of the people involved. It also provides practical guidance.

The researchers found they had to rethink their roles and find the right balance between their 'expert' role and 'empowering' or 'facilitative' role. There was always a tension between enabling the older people to develop their research skills at their own pace and needing to complete the research on time.

The older people gained from a wider appreciation and understanding of research and from developing marketable research skills. They are now using these skills in other areas.

Involving the older people as researchers also affected the quality of the interview data in both positive and negative ways. It appears that interviewees talked more freely and disclosed more information to their peers. However, the interviewers then found if difficult to keep the interview focused on the research topic and to be sure whether the discussion was relevant.

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Categories: health
public health
social care
Undertaking research
impact on research
impact on service users involved
impact on researchers
impact of public involvement
report

Date Entered: 2012/03/26

Date Edited: 2012/11/20