Key Discussion Topics
Administrative Support:
Alison discussed a need for administrative support across research streams.
Potential support needs include but are not limited to:
- Document preparation and formatting
- Scheduling and coordination
- Expense claim submissions
- General administrative tasks
All streams have a budget of $15,000 for admin support. Further discussion is required to determine whether funding should be pooled to support a full-time position or distributed across streams. If funding is pooled for a full-time position, then a JD will need to be developed.
Codebook Development:
The group discussed the need for a coordinated approach to coding qualitative and mixed-methods data.
Discussion focused on:
- Defining the types of data being collected and how they will be classified.
- Establishing the codebook as the primary source of truth for de-identified participant characteristics.
- Balancing consistency across streams while maintaining stream-specific flexibility.
- Concerns regarding the manageability of a single large codebook.
Action Items
- Create a document for each stream to identify administrative tasks that could be supported centrally.
- Send community pitch package recommendations received from the LAC.
- Send LAC discussion notes to research team
- Develop and distribute the codebook workbook, including a shared-code tab and stream-specific tabs.
- Obtain an NVivo quote for users and determine the required number of licenses.
- Confirm anticipated NVivo users/seats.
- Address required ethics amendments and submitted prior to the June deadline.
- Prepare Healthy Aging community pitch package for LAC review and June 20 Richmond County meeting.
NORC Boundaries and Participant Inclusion:
The team discussed how to handle participants who attend community events outside their home communities and the implications for data collection and analysis.
Key considerations included:
- The issue is both methodological and theoretical, particularly regarding the definition of a horizontal NORC.
- Postal codes may be too broad for accurately defining NORC boundaries.
- A potential approach is to establish NORC boundaries and ask participants whether they reside within the identified NORC.
- Participants could be tagged by NORC regardless of where they participate in research activities.
- Participants should also have the option to indicate they reside outside a NORC.
- Participation requirements for more time-intensive activities may differ for individuals outside identified NORCs.
- NORC boundaries may be refined over time based on participant engagement patterns.
Community Engagement and Research Planning:
The team discussed approaches for engaging communities and ensuring research activities align with community priorities and expectations.
Key points included:
- Consultation with the LAC is required before approaching communities.
- A Homeward Bound community pitch package will be developed and reviewed by the LAC.
- The pitch package is required by June 20 for an upcoming community meeting in Richmond County.
- LAC members will provide contacts and guidance regarding community buy-in and engagement.
- Research fairs should be aligned with existing popular community events whenever possible.
- LAC feedback indicated that seniors generally have a strong dislike of surveys; alternative engagement methods should be prioritized.
Data Analysis Software:
The team reviewed options for qualitative analysis software, including:
- NVivo
- Dedoose
- ATLAS.ti
NVivo emerged as the preferred option, although cost remains a consideration. A quote will be obtained for a group license covering 10+ users.
Decisions Made
Codebook Structure:
Kate Linden will initiate development of the codebook and distribute it to the broader team.
The agreed structure is:
- A shared set of first-level (high-level) codes used across all streams.
- Stream-specific codes maintained by individual streams.
- Stream-specific codes will be shared with the Economics stream to support integrated modelling and analysis.
Demographic Data Collection:
Basic demographic questions will be collected during participant registration at research fairs and community events.
This approach will:
- Reduce repetition across research stations and activities.
- Improve participant experience.
- Ensure consistency in demographic data collection across streams.
Data Analysis Software:
NVivo was selected as the preferred qualitative data analysis platform for the project, subject to confirmation of licensing costs and procurement requirements. The team will pursue a group license option and obtain a quote for 10+ users to determine the most cost-effective licensing model.
Demographic Data Collection:
The group discussed opportunities to standardize demographic data collection across research streams.
Topics included:
- Identifying core demographic questions required across all streams.
- Reducing repetitive demographic questioning during research activities.
- Collecting basic demographic information during participant registration at research fairs and events.
- Allowing streams to collect additional demographic information where required.
Ethics and Informed Consent:
The team reviewed upcoming ethics requirements and informed consent processes.
Key points included:
- Minor ethics amendments will be required following upcoming revisions submission.
- Additional amendments are anticipated in July.
- A move toward digital informed consent is being explored, with forms stored through the project website and exportable for record keeping.
- Previous experience suggests participants often prefer paper consent forms and may not fully review lengthy consent documents.
- Simplified consent forms previously approved through ethics processes may provide a useful model moving forward.
Upcoming Milestones
- June 9: Fall course registration opens; faculty teaching schedules are expected to be finalized.
- June 20: HB community pitch package required for Richmond County community meeting.
- July: Anticipated ethics amendments for additional project activities.