This survey uses the terms 'participants', 'advisors' and 'decision-makers' to describe the various roles of older adults in the research process; in the context of this survey, these roles are defined as:
Participants: Older adults who are engaged in the research/development project, which require prior ethics approval. Example: testing a prototype, research subjects, informants, interviewees.
Advisors: Older adults who serve a consultative capacity to the researcher throughout the research process. Example: advisory board members, consultants in quality improvement initiatives.
Decision makers: Older adults whose opinion and/or input is required to make a decision about the project or its part during the research/development process. Example: co-researchers, collaborators, partners in conducting research activities or in the technology development process.