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Older people as co-researchers: a collaborative journey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2013

JILL BINDELS ,
VIVIANNE BAUR ,
KAREN COX ,
SERVÉ HEIJING  and
TINEKE ABMA
JILL BINDELS*
Affiliation:
Department of Health Services Research, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
VIVIANNE BAUR
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Humanities, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
KAREN COX
Affiliation:
Department of Health Services Research, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, The Netherlands. Fontys University of Applied Sciences, School of Nursing, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
SERVÉ HEIJING
Affiliation:
Co-researcher, House of the Care, The Netherlands.
TINEKE ABMA
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Humanities, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
*
Address for correspondence: Jill Bindels, Department of Health Services Research, P.O Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands E-mail: j.bindels@maastrichtuniversity.nl
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Abstract

In recent years there has been a distinguishable trend towards user involvement in ageing research. Researchers and policy makers both are increasingly convinced that user involvement is necessary to adapt research questions and methods to meet the needs of older people. Little is known, however, about the quality of collaborations between older people and researchers. This study systematically evaluates a collaboration undertaken between two academic researchers and three older people acting as co-researchers in an effort to identify the conditions required for equal collaboration. To evaluate the collaboration the co-researchers and academic researchers took part in individual in-depth interviews (after six months) and two reflection meetings (after six and 12 months). Throughout the collaboration, field notes were taken by both academic researchers and co-researchers. A detailed description of the collaboration is provided here, using the metaphor of a journey to illustrate the dynamics and the learning process of the participants. Interim reflection meetings – at which mutual expectations were expressed along with a frank discussion of prejudices, tasks and role divisions, and the sharing of personal and project-related needs and information – were found to be fruitful in achieving a positive working relationship and fostering an effective collaboration. We conclude that a learning perspective on participation can be a resource for learning and adaptive change.

Keywords

co-researcherspatient participationconsumer participationuser involvementcollaborationreflection
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 34 , Issue 6 , July 2014 , pp. 951 - 973
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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