Why should older adults be partners in research, not just research participants

A newly published chapter, “Participatory Research in Ageing”, highlights the importance of participatory research in ageing studies and argues that older adults should be actively involved in shaping the research that affects their lives.

The chapter was authored by Lea Lebar, PhD, Vesna Dolničar, PhD, and Simona Hvalič-Touzery, PhD, from the Centre for Social Informatics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, and Mateja Nagode, MSc, from the Directorate for Older People, Long-Term Care and Deinstitutionalisation at the Ministry for a Solidary Future. It has been published in the newly released Research Handbook on the Sociology of Ageing (Edward Elgar Publishing), edited by L. Foster, A. Motel-Klingebiel and B.M. Luo-Hermanson.

Participatory research is based on the principle of conducting research with older people rather than on them. Instead of being treated solely as respondents, older adults are involved as partners and co-researchers throughout the research process – from identifying research questions and collecting data to interpreting findings and developing recommendations.

The chapter emphasises that such involvement is particularly important in research on digital technologies and innovation in care. Older adults are often the intended users of technologies designed to support independent living, health, and long-term care. Yet they are frequently underrepresented in research and development processes, while decisions about technologies are made by researchers, developers, policymakers, and service providers.

The authors argue that meaningful participation helps ensure that technologies respond to the actual needs, preferences, and everyday experiences of older people. Without their involvement, technological solutions risk overlooking important aspects of users’ lives, reducing adoption and usefulness, and reinforcing ageist assumptions that portray older adults as passive recipients of care or as incapable of engaging with technology.

Participatory approaches can also challenge stereotypes about ageing by recognising older adults as experts in their own lives and as valuable contributors to knowledge production. Beyond improving research quality, such approaches strengthen older people’s agency, support more inclusive innovation, and increase the likelihood that research findings will translate into meaningful improvements in practice and policy.

The chapter further discusses the principles, methods, benefits, and challenges of participatory research, offering practical recommendations for researchers working in ageing and digitalisation. The authors conclude that the question is no longer whether older people should be involved in research, but how their involvement can become more meaningful, inclusive, and influential.