THE TREAT SCALE: A REFLEXIVE TOOL FOR TRANSDISCIPLINARY WORKING IN AGING AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH

摘要

Adopting a transdisciplinary approach to the development of technologies to support older adults and their care partners is crucial to bridging research with policy and practice. Despite increased popularity of this approach, research evaluating transdisciplinary processes and outcomes remains limited due to an absence of evaluative tools. This presentation describes the development and validation of a new instrument: TREAT (Transdisciplinary Research Effectiveness in Aging and Technology) scale. Content areas were established through a scoping review resulting in four key themes: collaborative working practices, knowledge mobilization and exchange, integration and co-creation of knowledge, and action-oriented research. Subscale items were developed according to each theme. The overall structure, phrasing, and content validity of the TREAT were evaluated via consultation workshops with key stakeholders across Canada. Results suggest that the TREAT scale has significant potential for evaluating and improving transdisciplinary processes and outcomes for the field of aging and technology.