¿Cuáles son las mejores prácticas para realizar investigaciones con personas mayores?

Take the time to understand the specific needs, preferences, and motivations of senior citizens when conducting research. This may include considering factors such as physical limitations, cognitive abilities, communication styles, and cultural backgrounds.

You want to work with partners who have relevant knowledge, skills, and resources to support your research goals. You also want to work with partners who share your vision, values, and standards.

There is a lot to consider when doing research with senior citizens. Are you targeting over or under 70? This will greatly change your methodology. Under 70, they are probably comfortable with computer technology (email, not smartphone). Above 70, stick to traditional means like telephone or in person. Qual should be strictly in person. Do not assume they have the technology or bandwidth in their home for online platforms.

Treat senior citizens with respect, dignity, and empathy throughout the research process. Understand that they may have different communication styles, physical limitations, and cognitive abilities, and approach them with patience and understanding.

Effectively communicate the research's purpose, procedures, and potential risks to ensure seniors willingly participate, using clear and simple language. Provide straightforward instructions for tasks, select accessible venues for in-person research considering mobility issues, and use accessible formats, such as larger fonts. Consider seniors' convenience in scheduling, respect cultural differences, and demonstrate appreciation by sharing key findings for an inclusive and positive research experience.

Start by not thinking of them as “senior citizens”! The idea that everyone over the age of 65/75/85 whatever are one homogenous blob is outdated. Think about the actual audience you want to speak to and ensure that you are providing approaches that allow all to take part - some “senior citizens” will be absolutely fine using online tools and some will prefer you to undertake face to face interviews (spoiler: also true of some audiences aged 18-24). The setting matters - are you speaking to them in-home or are you going to intercept people in the street - if the latter, do you need somewhere with a bench nearby? Given the loneliness epidemic in the UK, factor in time for a longer interview as some of this audience may want to chat.

Use research methods that are accessible and engaging for senior citizens. This may involve using large font sizes, clear language, and simple instructions in surveys or questionnaires. Consider alternative formats such as in-person interviews, focus groups, or phone interviews for those who may have difficulty using digital devices.

La empatía es fundamental en el trabajo con adultos mayores. Aconsejo que al crear encuestas, trabajemos en conjunto con profesionales dedicados a la Psicología para construir instrumentos adecuados a este segmento poblacional.

Considering the best way to reach your audience is always an important part of any research project. When engaging senior participants, at least at present, I often find that paper surveys resonate most strongly, but increasingly web-based surveys are gaining traction as previously younger generations age. But in either case, things like fonts, readability, length and other practical considerations are important in the design of the instrument on any platform.

Designing accessible surveys is especially important if it is healthcare related. Keep it short to avoid breakoffs. Avoid acronyms. You may even want to consider research among caregivers as proxy for certain topics.

As with any audience, of course, good ethical research practices should be followed. Further, recognize that senior audiences are being bombarded with scams - and with messages warning them of scams. There may therefore be an extra layer of hesitancy about participating in your study, and about providing any private/personal information. Have a clear communication plan about the survey's purposes and process and the types of information that will be (and will NOT be) requested, to allay fears that they will be asked for personal or sensitive information.

You want to work with partners who have relevant knowledge, skills, and resources to support your research goals. You also want to work with partners who share your vision, values, and standards.

Ensure that the recruitment process is strategic and ethical when engaging senior citizens in research. Use diverse recruitment methods to reach a representative sample of the senior population and obtain informed consent before involving participants in the research process.

La manera en que los encuestadores abordan a personas adultas mayores es clave para el éxito en la tasa de respuesta. Deben ser personas amables, cordiales, empáticas y muy pacientes.

Communicate with senior citizens respectfully and empathetically throughout the research process. Be patient, attentive, and responsive to their needs and concerns. Use active listening techniques and show genuine interest and appreciation for their perspectives.

If you are doing research using a live methodology (telephone or in-person), you need to select your interviewers wisely. People who speak slowly and clearly is a must, but also someone who is patient. They also need to be able to redirect tactfully.

Thoroughly analyze the research data collected from senior citizens and derive meaningful insights. Consider how the findings can be applied to improve products, services, or policies that directly impact the lives of senior citizens. Involve them in the interpretation of results and decision-making processes where appropriate.

Methodology is key. If you do a cutting-edge online survey among seniors (especially over 70) you are not interviewing a representative sample of that segment (unless it is technology based). You will need to use more traditional methodologies for real representation.

Take the time to build trust and rapport with senior participants by establishing a friendly and welcoming environment. Start conversations with casual introductions, engage in small talk to break the ice, and demonstrate genuine interest in their perspectives and experiences.

Considering additional factors such as physical accessibility, flexibility, privacy, and cultural sensitivity, researchers can conduct meaningful and ethical research with senior citizens that respects their dignity and autonomy.

It can also be useful to differentiate the group of elderly people and establish clear definitions regarding your target group and the relevance of your research question. We are often highly selective with market research projects and should be careful to not to underestimate the impact of digitalization.