Friday, 14 January 2005 - 2:00 PM

This presentation is part of: Measuring Distress, Well-Being and Burden

Using Diverse Methods to Develop a Culturally Sensitive Measure of Well-being: The Case of Thai Elders

Using Diverse Methods to Develop a Culturally Sensitive Measure of Well-being: The Case of Thai Elders

Purpose: When conducting research in other countries, investigators often use standardized measures constructed in the West. This paper describes a mixed-method approach used to develop a measure of psychological well-being relevant to older Thai people.

Methods: Data were collected from older people in Thailand in four stages which staggered qualitative and quantitative methods. First, individual and focus group interviews were conducted (n=67) to determine the dimensions of well-being that were indigenous to older Thai people. Second, survey data were collected (n=477) on a preliminary instrument which measured each of the well-being dimensions. Third, cognitive interviews (n=30) were conducted to qualitatively assess older people’s understanding of item terminology. Fourth, a second survey (n=460) was conducted using revised items and interview techniques suggested by the older respondents.

Results: Five dimensions of psychological well-being (i.e., harmony, interdependence, acceptance, respect, and enjoyment) emerged from an analysis of data gathered during the first qualitative stage of this process. However, when closed-ended items measuring each dimension were incorporated in the second quantitative stage, numerous problems occurred with the measure (e.g., misunderstanding items, difficulty with the response set) and the interviewing technique (i.e., responses were influenced by others who were present). The cognitive interviews that occurred during the third qualitative stage helped uncover the reasons for these problems. They also resulted in revisions of the measure and the interview process that were incorporated into the fourth quantitative stage.

Implications for Practice: This process of instrument development highlights the importance of cognitive interviewing to understand the thoughts and feelings of respondents. Further, specialized interviewing techniques are presented for use in cultures in which privacy is difficult to obtain.

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