Congress (Day 3) - How do we overcome the methodological challenges in intergenerational research globally?

Thursday 1st October 2026, 9:00am - 12:30pm
University of Strathclyde, Technology and Innovation Centre, 99 George St, Glasgow, G1 1RD

Facilitator(s): Katrina Radford, Associate Professor and Professor Emeritus Anneke Fitzgerald from Griffith University and Clare LIttleton, Associate Professor from Torrens University, Australia.

Intergenerational research is consistently criticised for poor methodological rigor. This workshop unpacks the key methodological challenges in intergenerational research identified in the literature and gets participants to workshop ways to overcome this in a “world-café” style workshop.

Each table will presented with four key questions/challenges, and participants will be encouraged to answer these in small groups. Each group will have 10 minutes to brainstorm the answer, before moving to the next question.  At the end of the workshop participants will report back their findings and we will collectively agree on a solution to the question/challenge.

A key outcome of this workshop is to develop new networks and collaborations that allow us to compare the outcomes of intergenerational programs globally. Secondary outcomes of the workshop includes connecting senior and more junior researchers together to strengthen connections globally.

Moving forward, this will result in the formation of a methodological community of practice focused on intergenerational practice research. Led by Kat and Claire, this community of practice will meet quarterly to discuss challenges and opportunities, and provide opportunities for connecting senior and more junior researchers together to strengthen connections globally in a methodological community of practice.

A summary of this workshop will then be shared with participants of the workshop at the congress. A presentation of the findings and launch of the community of practice will then occur during Global Intergenerational Week 2027.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will gain or be able to:

1. Identify methodological challenges that exist and develop solutions to overcome them in future research. 
2. Develop new networks and collaboration to strengthen connections globally.
3. Connect with senior and more junior researchers to strengthen research collaborations and globally integrated work.

Lead Facilitor Biography: 

Associate Professor Katrina Radford’s research interests focus on the intersection of work and age in three key areas:

1. How can we better create, and plan for, inclusive workplaces? 
2. How can we better recruit, retain and support employees within the aged care sector? and 
3. How can we build better systems or programs that provide quality care for an ageing population?

Katrina's expertise also extends to trialling new innovative systems and approaches to address ageing and ageism, such as intergenerational practices and hybrid care workforces or innovative workplace trials to re-engage an older population to create the workforce of the future. A major program of her research over the past 12 years has been setting the scene for intergenerational practice in Australia. She has authored a childrens book and over 50 publications in her career to date.