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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Multi-disciplinarity, user engagement and the design of special programmes of ageing research in the United Kingdom | | Author(s) | Peter Lansley |
| Journal title | Ageing and Society, vol 33, no 5, July 2013 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press, July 2013 |
| Pages | pp 727-760 |
| Source | journals.cambridge.org/aso |
| Keywords | Ageing process ; Multi disciplinary ; Research ; United Kingdom. |
| Annotation | Since 1997, ageing research in the United Kingdom (UK) has been promoted through a series of research council special programmes with an emphasis on multidisciplinary, collaborative, user-focused research. While there has been notable progress, substantial setbacks have also been experienced as well - especially a major lull in activity, also strong disciplinary biases in later programmes. Skills, expertise and influence on policy and practice, developed through early programmes, have been lost. Two philosophies of programme management have emerged. First, there has been a top-down approach to the development of priorities and activities, largely reflecting a linear model of research, development and diffusion. The second is a bottom-up approach strongly influenced by the priorities of users - including older people - which has emphasised the role of problem-solving and social interaction between researchers and users. A comparison of these two philosophies highlights factors which contribute to successful programme implementation and valuable outcomes for society at large. These emphasise: involvement of all potential users; encouragement of champions; supporting researchers at all stages in their careers; transparency in communicating intent, progress and achievements; varied and robust knowledge transfer; and, above all else, understanding the challenges faced by individuals as they grow older. Future programmes would be assured of making significant contributions to supporting older people and an ageing society, if those commissioning the programmes recognised the importance of these factors and accepted the consequent challenges for the organisation of such research programmes. A response by Alan Walker (http://www.newdynamics.group.shef.ac.uk/assets/fil... provides an alternative interpretation of ageing research programmes in the UK. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-130628200 A |
| Classmark | BG: 3DM: 3A: 8 |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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