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Gerontological Research in the '90s: Strengths, Weaknesses and Contributions to Policy*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Neena L. Chappell
Neena L. Chappell
Affiliation:
University of Victoria
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Abstract

This paper begins with a discussion of five aspects of the 1990s which characterize the societal context for gerontological research which make this decade distinctive from preceding ones. These include: gerontology has come of age; the acceptance of a broad definition of health; the recognition of the role of research in policy and program development; the recognition of applied research; and a climate of cost consciousness which applies to many areas, including research which demands it be accurate and usable. The paper discusses the rediscovery of qualitative research as the new hope for answering many of our questions. It is noted that qualitative research has much to offer, although it is not a panacea and should compliment not replace traditional quantitative methods. The following section talks about knowing enough to know when not to do research and educating others about what any particular research project will not do. The remainder of the paper discusses the promise of, and some of the practical means of accomplishing collaborative research.

Résumé

Cet article discute en premier lieu de cinq aspects des années 1990 qui caractérisent le contexte social de la recherche gérontologique et distinguent cette décennie des précédentes. Ces aspects sont les suivants: la gérontologie a atteint sa maturité; une définition élargie de la santé est enfin acceptée; le rôle de la recherche en élaboration de politiques et de programmes est reconnu; la recherche appliquée est acceptée; et on est plus conscient des coûts dans divers secteurs, y compris dans celui de la recherche où les résultats doivent être précis et utilisables. On y traite ensuite de la redécouverte de la recherche qualitative qui, espère-t-on, répondra à bon nombre de questions. Cette forme de recherche comporte beaucoup de possibilités, même si celle-ci, n'étant pas un panachée, devrait complimenter et non remplacer les méthodes quantitatives traditionnelles. La section suivante aborde la question à savoir si l'on dispose de suffisamment de connaissances pour déterminer que des recherches ne sont pas nécessaires, et la sensibilisation des gens quant aux limitations de tout projet de recherche. Finalement, l'article traite des possibilités de la recherche en collaboration et des moyens pratiques pour la concrétiser.

Keywords

Gerontological ResearchCollaborative ResearchResearch ContextScientific Excellence.Recherches gérontologiquesrecherche en collaborationcontexte de la rechercheexcellence scientifique.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 14 , Issue S1 , Été/Summer 1995 , pp. 23 - 36
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1995

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References

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