Qualitative Research in Gerontology and Geriatrics

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