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Lee-Ann Fenge - Bournemouth University

Striving towards inclusive research – an example of Participatory Action Research with older lesbians and gay men. Lee-Ann Fenge - Bournemouth University. Background. The NSF for Older People (2001) A New Ambition for Old Age (2006) ongoing need to respect dignity and human rights

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Lee-Ann Fenge - Bournemouth University

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  1. Striving towards inclusive research – an example of Participatory Action Research with older lesbians and gay men Lee-Ann Fenge - Bournemouth University

  2. Background • The NSF for Older People (2001) • A New Ambition for Old Age (2006) ongoing need to respect dignity and human rights • Opportunity Age (2005) need to shed outdated stereotypes • A Sure Start to Later Life (2005) discrimination on the basis of sexuality

  3. Multiple levels of discrimination • Ageism • Sexism • Heterosexism • Homophobia This leads to invisibility both outside and within the gay community

  4. National Developments • Until recent years the needs of older lesbians and gay men have been largely unexplored in Britain • Opening Doors Conference 2002 • One in every fifteen users of Age Concern services is gay

  5. Langley (1997) • Small scale study in Brighton • Unifying theme was the oppression experienced and feared by the respondents at a personal, cultural and structural level • Need to be with and supported by other gay people • Concern at heterosexist provision

  6. Heaphy, Yip and Thompson (2003) • Large scale research on over 50s with 300+ respondents • Lack of planning for old age • Lack of opportunity to meet other older gay people • Fear of being ‘out’ to service providers • Concerns over financial security

  7. Bournemouth University and Help and Care Project • To identify older lesbian women and gay men’s aspirations, expectations and concerns related to old age. • To identify factors and issues that contribute to their exclusion from the wider community of older people, the gay community and support and service provision • To identify how these issues could be addressed and promote greater social inclusion • To increase knowledge and understanding of the diversity within these groups • 3 year funded project supported by the Big Lottery Fund

  8. Participatory Action Research • A ‘ground-up’ approach • Places emphasis on critical insights of community collaborators (Cahill, 2007:327) • An ‘inclusive model for knowledge and theory development’ (Beresford, 2000)

  9. Participatory Action Research • PAR requires that research participants must be active from the start of the process (Alvarez and Guitierrez, 2001) • There is a cycle of research where participants are engaged in a continuing dialectic as the group strive to make meaning and collectively create knowledge (Koch et al, 2002)

  10. Researcher role • The researcher is a ‘co-learner’ in this process (Minkler et al, 2002) • But it is important for the researcher to acknowledge their power within this process and the question of ownership and control is central (Whitmore, 1994)

  11. Research issues • Tension within PAR of outsider perspectives • Issues of power and ownership – ‘political disempowerment’ (Lennie, 2005) where some members take control of particular aspects of the project which can lead to ‘untold truths’ from those silenced in participatory approaches (Lundy and McGovern, 2006) • Continuing belief in some academic circles that lay involvement in research will lead to poor or biased research (Entwistle et al, 1998, Minkler and Wallerstein,2003)

  12. Gay and Grey in Dorset • Research Group – core group of 15 volunteers -wider group of interested individuals • All older lesbians or gay men between • Aged between 55 and 87 • Recruited from across Dorset (rural and urban) • Monthly meetings – social element. Small group tasks according to interest

  13. Outcomes • Developed a questionnaire completed by 91 respondents • In depth interviews with 30 respondents • Networking – mainstream organisations and gay community • Information directory and Newsletter/Promotional activity and conference • Social groups (rural areas)

  14. Issues • Isolation • Invisibility • Integration • Fear

  15. Promoting research with community groups • Institutional barriers to this type of research have been identified by Savan(2004;380) and Suarez-Balcazar et al (2005:96) which include: • Extra resources in HE to develop and maintain such partnerships • Emphasis on theoretical work and publications can undermine interest in applied research with policy outcomes • Lack of funding for such research • Time commitment • Conflict of interests

  16. References • Alvarez,A.R. & Guitierrez,L. 2001 Choosing to do Participatory Research: An example and issues of fit to consider, Journal of Community Practice,9 • Beresford,P. 2000 User’s knowledge and social work theory, British Journal of Social Work, 30, 489-503 • Cahill, C. 2007 Including excluded perspectives in participatory action research, Design Studies, 28,325-340 • Department of Health 2001 National Service Framework for Older People, London: HMSO • Department of Health 2006 A New Ambition for Old Age: next steps in implementing the National Service Framework, London: HMSO • Department of Work and Pensions 2005 Opportunity Age – Opportunity and Security Throughout Life, London:HMSO • Entwistle, V.A., Renfrew, M.J., Yearly,S., Forrester, J., & Lamont,T. 1998 Lay perspectives: advantages for health research, British Medical Journal, 16,463-466 • Heaphy, B., Yip,A., & Thomson,D. 2003 Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Lives over 50. Nottingham Trent University. York House Publications • Koch,T., Selim, P., & Kralik, D. 2002 Enhancing lives through the development of a communitu-based participatory action research programme, Journal of Clinical Nursing, 11,109-117 • Langley, J., 1997 Meeting the needs of older lesbians and gay men, University of Brighton, Health and Policy Research Centre

  17. Lennie, J. 2005 An Evaluation Capacity-Building Process for Sustainable Community IT Initiatives, Evaluation, 11(4) 390-414 • Lundy, P. & McGovern, M. 2006 Participation, Truth and Partiality: Participatory Action Research, Community-based Truth-telling and Post-conflict Transition in Northern Ireland, Sociology,40 (1) 71-88 • Minkler, M., Fadem,P. Perry,M., Blum, K., Moore, L. & Rogers, T. 2002 Ethical Dilemmas in Participatory Action Research: A Case Study, Health Education and Behaviour, 29,1,14-29 • Minkler,M.& Wallerstein, N. 2003 Introduction to community based participatory research. In M. Minkler & n. Wallerstein (eds) Community-based participatory research for health, Jossey-Bass, San Franscisco, 3-26 • Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 2006 A Sure Start to Later Life: Ending Inequalities for Older People: A Social Exclusion Unit Final Report, London: HMSO • Savan,B. 2004 Community-University partnerships: linking research and action for sustainable community development, Community Development Journal, 39(4), 372-384 • Suarez-Balcazar,Y., Harper,G.W., & Lewis,. 2005 An Interactive and Contextual Model of Community-University Collaborations for Research and Action, Health Education and Behaviour,32,1,84-101 • Whitmore,E. 1994 To Tell the Truth: Working with Oppressed Groups in Participatory Approaches to Inquiry. In. P. Reason (ed) Participation in Human Inquiry, London: Sage

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