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Collecting Qualitative Data through Interviews with Ethnic Older People

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Atsuko Karin Matsuoka
Atsuko Karin Matsuoka
Affiliation:
University of Manitoba
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Abstract

Qualitative knowledge on ethnicity and aging remains sparse and needs to be expanded. Qualitative research suggests a promising route to better understanding of different ethnic groups as well as of intra-ethnic group diversity. However, such research is not problem-free. This paper presents three interview scenarios, discusses a number of problems noted in the existing literature as well as some problems the author has encountered in the course of research and raises important issues relating to conducting interviews with ethnic seniors for qualitative studies.

Résumé

Les connaissances d'ordre qualitatif concernant l'ethnie et le vieillissement sont encore rares et doivent être développées. La recherche qualitative sugère un voie prometteuse pour mieux comprendre les différents groupes ethniques ainsi que la différenciation à l'intérieur d'une même ethnie. Toutefois, ce type de recherche n'est pas sans problème. Cet article présente trois scénarios d'entrevue, examine certains problèmes identifiés dans la documentation existante ou rencontrés par l'auteur au cours de ses recherches, et soulève des questions importantes relativement à la conduite d'entrevues avec des personnes âgées provenant de communautés ethniques.

Keywords

Ethnic Older PeopleQualitative ResearchInterviewsCross-cultural ResearchTranslator.Aînés des minorités ethniquesrecherche qualitativeentrevuesrecherche transculturelletraducteur.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 12 , Issue 2: Qualitative Methods/Les méthodes qualitatives , Été/Summer 1993 , pp. 216 - 232
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1993

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