Research partnerships – embracing user involvement: practical considerations and reflections

Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Ahead of Print. Purpose Academic researchers are increasingly required, and rightly so, to demonstrate the impact of their work beyond the gates of the university. This has led to an increasing focus, especially in response to funded calls, on developing research partnerships that cross disciplines, sectors and borders to help address our grand societal challenges. The purpose of this paper is to set out learning from the work of the organisation the Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland (CARDI) and reflections on how to bring forward effective research partnerships involving users. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on reflections and learning from the organisation CARDI which delivered a highly successful programme of interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral and cross-country research partnerships in both rural and urban areas between 2007 and 2015, across the island of Ireland. Findings Research partnerships that wish to involve users require time, commitment, support, understanding and a willingness to change and be challenged. This paper highlights that there are methodological, philosophical, moral, economic and of course, practical aspects to be considered. Research limitations/implications This reflective paper is based on a case study from the island of Ireland during the period 2007 –2015 working in the area of ageing and older people. Practical implications The author emphasises that for research part...
Source: Quality in Ageing and Older Adults - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research