Learning from older citizens’ research groups

Abstract

This article adds to an ongoing conversation in gerontology about the importance of training and involving older people in research. Currently, the literature rarely distinguishes between the one

Researching Ageing

“…Older people are usually bypassed by the mainstream participatory research community. Studies found that older people are willing to express themselves and contribute directly and proactively in the research process, which gives them the opportunity to continue their existing social roles Munn-Giddings et al, 2016). This approach also has the potential to challenge ageism and to access the views of older people, whose interests are often ignored or rejected and undervalued.…”

“…As suggested by Walker (2007), "As a matter of human rights, older people have a right to be consulted about research that is being conducted on them." Enabling older people's engagement in research fosters their autonomy and active citizenship; their knowledge and ability is reconstructed in a process of understanding and empowerment (Munn-Giddings et al, 2016).…”

“…By contrast, the primary aim of participatory research is to enable marginalized groups to allow their voices to be heard. What counts is that peer researchers bring their everyday experiential knowledge (knowledge of the local region, language, cultural habits and experience with ageing in general) as well as their ability into the research process (Munn-Giddings et al, 2016). It has to be addressed that this experiential knowledge fosters new and distinctive perspectives and insights for academic researchers; it also helps them to triangulate the results, so as to better understand research findings, as different perspectives are negotiated and linked to each other.…”