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Abstract
Interest in co-research with older adults has grown in the past 20 years, yet few published studies have addressed why and how older people have been involved as partners in research. This article presents a systematic review of the literature, examining the aims and challenges of co-research and the ways in which older adults can be involved in research. Systematic searches covering several databases were conducted, yielding a total of 3,293 articles, with 27 papers reviewed which involved older people as co-researchers across more than one stage of the research cycle. We find that co-research with older people offers improved understandings of the issues facing older people; more inclusive and responsive policy, practice and service design; and opportunities for co-researchers to develop new skills whilst giving voice to marginalised groups of older people. The analysis highlights the different ways in which older adults can be involved across phases of research, and identifies ethical, methodological and practical challenges encountered in the process. Involving older adults as co-researchers, while labour intensive and practically challenging, holds promise as an underdeveloped resource for social gerontology, as well as older people themselves. The paper identifies four pathways for improving and extending co-research: developing diversified structures of involvement, supporting co-researchers,
embedding research rigour and ensuring co-ownership of change.
embedding research rigour and ensuring co-ownership of change.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1 |
Number of pages | 27 |
Journal | Ageing & Society |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 10 Feb 2022 |
Keywords
- Ageing
- Participatory
- Coproduction
- older people
- social exclusion
- social inequality
- social justice
Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms
- Global inequalities
- Policy@Manchester
- Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing
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Dive into the research topics of 'Co-research with older people: a systematic literature review'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Urban Ageing and Social Exclusion
Buffel, T. (PI) & Phillipson, C. (CoI)
1/03/16 → 3/02/21
Project: Research