Cross-national qualitative research into the long-term care of older people: some reflections on methodology

This paper aims to fill an important gap in cross-national comparison conducted by a solo-researcher through an example of a three-nation study of the long-term care of older people, in order to make transparent some of the key issues—time and space, comparability, culture and language—involved in the practical implementation of cross-national qualitative research. It is argued that cross-national comparison is very demanding in terms of language skills, cultural understanding, resources and time to provide a rigorous comparative instrument and outcome. Key approaches that address challenges for solo-researchers are: careful attention to geographical location and flexibility in timetable and programmes for gathering data; employment of multi-disciplinary knowledge to address the complexity of the research topic; application of a multi-method and multi-layer approach in data collection and analysis; recognition of the caring culture; and sensitivity of national as well as local language. In contrast to the challenges, the paper concludes with an analysis of the added value of solo-researcher activity in cross-national research.