Researching Ageing Societies

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Gain communication skills gained through the preparation of assessed coursework
• Use evidence in your argumentation and reference sources correctly
• Demonstrate awareness of different methods for researching ageing societies and the advantages and challenges in applying these
• Locate relevant literature and published data
• Identify and discuss the methods, data, impact and ethical implications of researching substantive issues concerning ageing and older people
• Discuss contrasting viewpoints on selected contemporary issues in ageing societies and critically evaluate the evidence and arguments for them
• Draw on concepts in Gerontology and understand how they are applied in research on social, health and economic issues affecting the lives of older people

The module will cover critical consideration of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methods, secondary data sources, ethical issues and research impact around researching older people in society. Indicative topics include: researching ageing and older people; undertaking sensitive research; ethical challenges in conducting research with older people; researching 'hard-to-reach' groups; ensuring reflexivity in research; conducting research in care homes; achieving research impact. The module will also include guidance on developing and presenting a research project proposal.

Teaching and learning methods

The module is taught by means of lectures and guest lectures, involving student participation, student presentations, and independent study, including designing a research proposal, developing presentation skills.

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Module resources available on BlackBoard. These include lecture PowerPoint slides, reading lists,coursework details, exercises, references and module updates. In addition, resources also include specially ordered texts located in the University library, and details of specialist websites.

Textbooks

Denscombe, M. (2021). The Good Research Guide: For Small-Scale Social Research Projects. London: Open University Press, McGraw Hill.

Carmen García-Peña, Luis Miguel Gutiérrez Robledo, Mario Ulises Pérez-Zepeda (2018). Aging research: methodological issues. Cham: Springer.

Leontowitsch, M. (2012). Researching Later Life and Ageing: Expanding Qualitative Research Horizons. London: Palgrave (e-book).

Jamieson, A. and C.R. Victor (2002). Researching Ageing and Later Life.. Buckingham: Open University Press.

Łuszczyńska, M. (2020). Researching Ageing: Methodological Challenges and Empirical Background. London: Routledge.

Bryman, Alan (2015). Social Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Biggam, J. (2015). e-book: Succeeding with Your Master’s Dissertation: A Step-By-Step Handbook. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Bell, J. (2010). Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-Time Researchers in Education and Social Science. Buckingham: Open University Press.

Weil, Joyce (2017). Research design in aging and social gerontology : quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. New York: Routledge.

Urbaniak, Anna; Anna Wanka (2024). Routledge international handbook of participatory approaches in ageing research. Abingdon: Routledge.

Assessment strategy

The assignment, worth 100%, consists of an individual research proposal which is presented as an oral presentation with PowerPoint slides, followed by questions

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External