Adding Narratives to Numbers in a Mixed Methods Study of Successful Ageing

The 6-Day Sample of the Scottish Mental Survey 1947

Bibliographic Data

ID2643077
AuthorsJd Carpentieri (0000-0001-7550-1676, UCL Institute of Education;, corresponding author), Jane Elliott (0000-0002-2617-5808, Economic and Social Research Council), Caroline Brett (0000-0002-5680-2948, University of Edinburgh), Ian Deary (University of Edinburgh), Ian J Deary (0000-0002-1733-263X, University of Edinburgh)
Year2016
Volume21
Issue2
Pages67-92
Publication date2016-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociological Research Online (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1360-7804 • E-ISSN: 1360-7804
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.5153/sro.3926
OpenAlexW2494327445
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited53

This article details the development and potential uses of a qualitative sub-study within a quantitative, longitudinal study of a Scottish cohort born in 1936 (the 6-Day Sample). Analysing narratives and other biographical interview material, we explore the potential of mixed methods research designs to improve the study of successful ageing, a widely used but contested concept. While acknowledging the critiques of successful ageing, we suggest that the concept can be improved by the adoption of mixed method research strategies that address key criticisms, in particular the lack of attention to older people's own voices. Including those voices in our study alongside researcher-defined outcome measures, we explore the reasons underlying some older people's 'spiky profiles', i.e. positive outcomes in some domains and negative outcomes in others. We also investigate the potential benefits and challenges of taking a qualitative approach to the most well known process-focused model of successful ageing: Selection, Optimisation and Compensation (SOC). We conclude that a narratively informed mixed methods research design offers the potential for more comprehensive and nuanced approach to successful ageing

Ageing · Multimethodology · Narrative · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Aging and Gerontology Research · Computer Science · Data Analysis and Archiving · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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