To study lives over many years. The meaning of ageing in the research process

The aim is to present some reflections over a methodological  issue that is hardly ever  addressed in ageing research: How does ageing – not only the respondent´s/participant´s ageing but also the researcher´s own ageing – influence their relationship and the shaping of the research process, in  longitudinal qualitative studies?  What is the impact of their historical location and the passing of time, not only for the participant´s meaning making, but also for the researcher´s perspectives and priorities? And what are the long term implications of the relationship between the researcher and the participant, not only for the research but also for their respective lives? The presentation builds on a study in which a group of chronically ill, visually impaired people were followed through repeated interviews over 30 years.

The historical location was important for the original design of the study. However, norms and timebound themes took on more complex functions in later phases of the research process and its design. The researcher´s own ageing influenced – changed – the focus of the study over time. In the 30 year-perspective, it also seemed clear that the relationship between the researcher and the participant had been more important for the researcher than it had been for the participant, in his or her life. In retrospect, the results from the study appeared quite fluid, under constant change. Some of these observations seemed to give reasons to problematize the common tendency in research to draw conclusions from an analysis based on data collected on one single occasion. Furthermore, the qualitative researcher probably often tends to overemphasize his or her importance for the particpants and their lives, this is a conclusion that will be drawn.