Visual inscriptions (e.g., graphs, illustrations) are a defining feature of scientific discovery to aid in data analysis, interpretation, and communication (e.g., Latour, 1990; Lynch, 1985). Our purpose was to examine how visual inscriptions are used to present data in gerontology journals. We compared 357 articles sampled from 24 peer-reviewed gerontology journals published between 1995 and 2009. Approximately 11 per cent of page space was dedicated to data presentation with more page space occupied by tables (9.13%) than graphs (2.32%). Graph use in gerontology was lower than in psychology (6.6% of page space) and higher than in criminology and criminal justice (1.7% of page space). Following Latour (1990), we argue that visualisations provide an understandable summary of complex data by effectively presenting multifaceted results. When inscriptions are used in dissemination, researchers become less reliant on complex statistical jargon and can communicate easily with a diverse audience (researchers, health care practitioners, clients).

Some researchers have suggested that qualitative research is increasing in the gerontology field, but little systematic analysis has tested this assertion. Using the Canadian Journal on Aging/La Revue canadienne du vieillissement as a case study, we analysed articles reporting on original research from 1995 to 2012. One in four articles were qualitative, and results in three-year intervals show a clear increase in qualitative research findings during this 18-year time frame: (a) 1995–1997: 10 per cent; (b) 1998–2000: 19 per cent; (c) 2001–2003: 25 per cent; (d) 2004–2006: 25 per cent; (e) 2007–2009: 29 per cent; and (f) 2010–2012: 43 per cent. In all time intervals (with the exception of 2004–2006), French language articles were more likely to use a qualitative research design compared to English language articles. Topics, methodologies, and data collection strategies are also discussed.

The French language imposes an additional difficulty for gerontological research: the lack of research on valid and reliable instruments of measurement in the French language. The translation into French of instruments already developed and validated in English is an interesting solution to this problem, since it offers the opportunity of profiting from previous research and allows for international comparisons. However, translation must follow strict rules to ensure that psychometric properties of the instrument have not been altered. A consensus workshop concluded that the following steps were needed in translating from English an instrument for gerontological research: (1) selection of the most valid and reliable instrument in English; (2) translation into French and back again into English; (3) review of the translated versions by a committee; (4) pretest; (5) test-retest (and if indicated inter-rater) reliability study. An inventory of all translated instruments showed that very few instruments fulfil these basic rules. This inventory is a useful tool for researchers and will stimulate research on measurement instruments and encourage publication of its results.

The debate regarding paradigms and investigation methods is at least partially responsible for the fragmentation of gerontologocial knowledge. First, the article presents arguments in favour of methodological pluralism as a research designed to facilitate the integration of knowledge and innovation. The main goal of methodological pluralism is to reconcile different approaches by combining a number of observation and data-collection scenarios within the same study. After presenting the arguments in favour of methodological pluralism and identifying the integration methods that can be applied to study results already obtained, the author proposes a taxonomy of multiple research strategies that may be utilized in the same study. He specifically discusses: pseudo-triangulation, parallel and sequential triangulation, composite methods, mixed methods and the multi-method approach.