Qualitative Research in Gerontology and Geriatrics

What makes qualitative research a unique approach is its ability to create in-depth knowledge about the topic under study. In this chapter, we first discuss qualitative research methods in general. Several approaches exist to conduct qualitative research and we examine how these methods can be used to study issues that affect older adults, highlighting the relative strengths and weaknesses of these methods. We present and discuss several data collection strategies: observation, in depth interviews, focal discussion groups, diaries and other registries. We also provide a few ideas on how to overcome typical challenges faced when using qualitative methods to study issues that affect older adults.