ABSTRACT
Research on older (South) Africans—as a diverse group—is limited in scope, contextual depth, and quantity. The chapter aims first to present two distinctly different examples: cell phone usage of older individuals in community-based research across urban/rural settings conducted over a period of six years, and the lifestyle experiences of residents in a formalised residential care setting studied over three days. Second, it aims to discuss the socio-ecological principles that guided research decisions to support the active participation of these older individuals in the course of data collection, including the importance of context; adopting a relationally focused approach; adapting the research environment to fit the needs of older participants; multiple data collection methods; and enabling socially transformative practices. The active participation of older adults in data collection on issues affecting their lives is held to be a basic right. The onus is on social scientists to create an optimal research context to elicit responsiveness from older individuals, irrespective of the complexity of the social setting or the support required for optimal participation.
