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A critical Review of a Qualitative Research publication by Simeon, P., Donovan,

R., Bold, D. and Newton, R (2014) ‘Older people's perceived causes of and
strategies for dealing wit...

Research · July 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4414.5766

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A Critical Review of a Qualitative Research

Kalu Michael
MSc Gerontology Student
University of Southampton, UK

Journal details
Simeon, P., Donovan, R., Bold, D. and Newton, R (2014) ‘Older people's perceived causes of
and strategies for dealing with social isolation’, Aging & Mental Health 18 (7): 914-920.

Word count: 1998

Introduction
The aim of the article is to find outlay theories relating to isolation and to find out positive
deviances that will help them in advising older people to have a protective behaviour that could
enhance their wellbeing and quality of Life. These positive deviances are behaviours that make
one to survive in an environment that others will not (Simeon et al, 2014). It draws on
qualitative research that utilises 12 focus groups and 20 interviews with respondents aged 40
years and above. In fact, the theory of life course perspective as the reason for selecting those
40 and above is a good indication of good future policy formulation. Two major lay theories
were importance of social connection and developing a relationship is harder later in life,
alongside with a positive deviances where social isolation is viewed as an incremental process.
It was concluded that the provision of broad group activities will help reduce isolation among
older people.

This essay will critically evaluate the article which will result in answering some questions which
include: Is the elements of influencing believability (style of writing and accuracy) of the
research adequate; are the elements of influencing robustness of the research which answers
the specific questions of methodology, reflexivity, flexibility, context, thick description, and the
limitation of study are meet; how strong are the conclusion and policy implications derived
from the study?

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Elements influencing believability of the research
The writing style of the article is good in the sense that, the report is concise, grammatically
correct with a good well laid out pattern that is interesting. Even though the writing is lengthy,
but the engaging style encourages one to read through the end. Moreover, the qualifications
of the researchers indicate that they have a good knowledge of the subject matter, especially
author 1 and author 2 were considered as an asset in the knowledge of the subject, although
publications in related subject have not been noted to be constant, unlike the team of Scramble
et al, 2001. The title of the study is clear and simple. The abstract shows a clear summary of
the report, but the clear statement of research question was not stated. It was left in the
domain of the reader to device the research question.

Elements influencing robustness of the research

Social isolation is the phenomena of the study, and was clearly identified, but devoid of clear
research questions. The overall aim of the study is rather misleading or better still complex and
broad as it is not directly linked to the specific objective of explicating the lay theories and
identifying the deviance. A better and clearer understanding would have been achieved by the
readers if the researchers specifically stated the research question. Generally, the purpose of
the study was clearly stated. The literature review was quite clear and then has a good linkage
between the subjects, thereby giving the reader a good base, for instance the use of lay
theories as a theoretical framework was a good approach, but more explanation and
application should be explained by the cognitive decision model, which I believe would have
established a better linkage between the subject of social isolation. Moreover, a better
explanation, linkages or difference between living alone, social Isolation and loneliness should
have been established when reviewing the literature. For instance, Scambler et al. (2011) gave
a better understanding of these differences in the sense that the specifically discussed the
three concepts in different and same context and that invariably gave the reader a clearer
understanding. Generally, demographic characteristics gives a good understanding of the
phenomena of studies, gender is the only demographic characteristic that was mentioned in
their study, whereas other demographic characteristics are less. The existence of other

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demographic variables in the works of Scambler et al. (2011)and Cloutier-Fisher et al. (2011)
gave a more boarder policy implications. This would have given a good understanding of the
phenomena of study; nevertheless, the explanation of the two components of social isolation is
a good approach which was absent in Scambler et al. (2011) study. The literature review does
not completely fulfil the objectives of the study. For instance positive deviances researches
should have been documented in the literature review, which could serve as a form of
discussion of the results.

Additionally, the research methodology was relatively good and explicit, but not detailed. The
seeking of ethical approval to conduct the research shows a good level of research ethics but a
more detailed ethical consideration should have been specifically stated. For instance, Gardner
(2011) specifically explained the ethical consideration in detail like informed consent.
Presentation of equal men and female in the focus group through quota sampling gives a good
credit. The direction of the interviews determined by the participants, which is a good form of
grounded theory, the non-directed approach would have been interesting if the detail
procedure was explained, in order to avoid misconception of themes and its analysis.
Nevertheless, social Isolation was noted to be the centre of discussion, both in focus group and
interview. The reason for the group size number of the focus group should have been stated for
accuracy. Cloutier-Fisher et al. (2011) and Gardner (2011) specifically mentioned the method in
which they recruited participant, which was not evident in this study, thus the richness of the
data is not established. In fact, arguably, this study should have utilized the theoretical sampling
as it uses grounded theory approach. The socio-demographic data (marital status, age groups,
last income) of the participants were not taken into specific consideration in this study, as far
as I know, thus devoid of demographic effects on the old people’s perception cause and
strategies for dealing with social Isolation. The use of author 1 who has a background in
psychology (counselling) will give a good rapport between the researcher and the participants,
thus the credibility of the data gotten could be sure.

Furthermore, the details of the interview activity were devoid of some factors like the number
of times or weeks or months the interviews were done either individually or at the focus group
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level, the method of interviewing (face to face, telephone or online) was not mentioned, thus
one can’t certain the goodness of the research at this stage, nevertheless the time for the
duration of interview and focus group was reported. The details of data analysis was not
convincing enough as seen in the study of Cloutier-Fisher et al. (2011) where he emphatically
stated step by step how he reached the theoretical saturation method. Although, Simeon et al,
2014 explain the use of triangulation method which gives a good credibility of the study, but
more detailed report on data analysis would have given a better credibility.

Moreover, the use of digital audio recording shows a reflective component which has reduced
bias and misinterpretation of data results. Nevertheless, this could bring in reconciliation in
terms of having a better credibility mentioned above as better explained in the study of
Gardner (2011) where video recordings were used as an additional form of the ethnographic
observation method employed in the study. In the same vein, the dependability of the study is
not certain as there is no detailed research process in all phases, thus the work can be followed
step by step and reproduced anywhere, like the study of Scambler et al. (2011), a bit of
dependability can be established as some phases of the research were explained in details.
Concurrently, Simeon et al.’s (2014) study has a moderate level of thick description as most of
the conclusions can easily be transferred to any context. This was better explained by the
results of the research, giving more meaning to me as the reader. No doubt that, some of these
conclusions are being backed up with previous experiences, for instance, focusing on or
empathizing with others rather than your own could may indicate stigmatization (quoted in
Rokach, 2012), these are part of his findings that is viewed as a therapy for solving isolation; in
the meantime maybe another therapy could be developed for the long terms (Simeon et al.,
2014). Conclusively, the study achieved a fair level of conformability, as most (reflexibility,
transferability (thick description), credibility) of the trustworthiness is achieved. Although
dependability has been always rare in qualitative research unless is a cohort or longitudinal
kind of a qualitative research study (Scambler and Victor, 2001). The respondent’s meaning was
properly emphasized by the researcher in different ways, It would have been interesting to
have seen from drawing out of differences between the two groups in terms of, for example,

4
discourses around loneliness and social isolation. It’s not really very clear otherwise why these
two qualitative methods were used, other that to achieve ‘triangulation’ (on which very little is
said).The limitation of the study was vividly explained by the researcher which was not evident
in the studies of Gardner (2011), Scambler and Victor (2001) and Scambler (2011). The
limitations observed in this study was the geographical restriction to only Austrialia, which he
believes can’t give room for the generalization but in my own argument, it is obvious that most
qualitative researches is not geared towards generalization but rather transferability rigour is
the best approach rather than generalization. There was a bit of interchange of concepts as
most of the limitation stated in this study should have been termed recommendations for
further research instead of limitation. For instance the advice of inclusion of the group with
poor health who are more risk of isolation in another study is rather recommended and not
limitation. Thus, the limitation observed in this study was the inability to explain details the
data collection and analysis method, the participants’ demographics are not detailed, and in
explaining the ethical considerations of the study. Also, the relative little attention given to
older age groups throughout the research procedure is another limitation observed.

The explicitness of the research findings was applauded as the researcher specifically stated
and recaptures the lay theories and the positive deviance which he finally linked to existing
literature. The conclusion of the study was rather not convincing as those salient points of the
conclusion should have been on the lay theories and positive deviance discussions and then
stating the new information of interest. For instance the lay theories in terms of focus group
and individual interviews should be elicited. The implication of the study was stated as the
combination of different types of group activities is the best approach to combat isolation in
older population. Policy related efforts in isolation could be achieved from the research which
the research did not extract. For instance, compulsorily mandating organizations to at least
employ an older person as a volunteer in their organization as a way of sending them out of the
house to meet people. Also policies that will encourage older people to be part of online social
network, this will invariably reduce isolation and then maintain their quality of life. Also, it
should be advocated that local community organizations should provide innovations that could
5
inspire and improve people’s later lives as evidence of policy in the UK that will improve
recruitment on retention of an ageing workforce (Department of Work and Penison, 2014).
Subsequently, practical policy formulations from studies about isolation should adopt a life
course perspective theory from the beginning of the study not only in the selection of
participants, as it will establish differences between those that have been always isolated
throughout their life course and those who are recently isolated due to ageing process and
some other factors like the death of a spouse, illness etc.

Conclusively, the study reached the basic components of qualitative criticism like the good
layout of the study writing, the competence of the researchers, the sensitivity of the context in
terms of reflexibility, thick description and credibility, but the detailed methodology like using
theoretical sampling than quota sampling would have improve the quality of the study. Policy
formulation should have been harnessed more if demographic variables were considered in the
study.

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 References
 Department of Work and Pension (2014) Policy document on Improving opportunities
for older people. Accessed on 1st March, 2015 at
www.gov.uk/government/policies/improving-opportunities-for-older-people.

 Gardner, P (2011) ‘Natural neighborhood networks — Important social networks in the

lives of older adults aging in place’, Journal of Aging Studies 25 : 263–271

 Rokach, A. (2012). ‘ Loneliness updated: An introduction’, Journal of Psychology 146(12):

1–6.

 Scambler, S and Victor C (2001) Understanding Experiences and Causes of Loneliness in

People over the Age of 65: A Qualitative Approach. World Congress of Gerontology,
Vancouver, Canada.

 Scambler, S., Victor, C., Bond, J and Bowling, A.(2011) ‘Understanding Loneliness in
Later Life: A Qualitative Exploration of Older People’s Experiences and Definitions’,
Journal of Aging Studies 25(4): 407-414.

 Scambler, S., Victor, C., Bond, J and Bowling A. Understanding Loneliness in Later Life:
A Qualitative Exploration of Older People’s Experiences and Definitions. Resubmitted to
Ageing and Society following response to referees comments.

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