The development of culturally-sensitive measures for research on ageing

Attempts to import existing measures developed in other countries when constructing research instruments for use with older people can result in several problems including inappropriate wording, unsuitable response sets, and insufficient attention to cultural nuances. This paper addresses such problems by discussing a mixed methods approach to measurement development (i.e. both qualitative and quantitative) that incorporates input from the aging adults for whom the measure is intended. To test this approach, a step-by step process to the development of a culturally-grounded measure for older Thai people is described. Using focus groups and in-depth interviews, the process begins with an identification of the culturally meaningful domains of the construct under study. Next, input is gathered from other studies; a preliminary quantitative measure is developed; the measure is reviewed by a panel of experts; and then it is pilot-tested. Cognitive interviews are utilized when pilot-testing of the items detects problems with measurement construction or interview methods. When these problems are remedied, the measure is incorporated into a large-scale survey and tested for its psychometric qualities. In addition to providing a template for culturally-sensitive measurement development in gerontology, this paper also highlights issues that researchers should consider when attempting to develop measures and provides suggestions for how to address such issues.