AdvancesinMethodologyandStatistics/Metodološkizvezki,Vol.18,No.1,2021,1–15
https://doi.org/10.51936/jfea4370
Researchinglong-termcareforolderpeopleusingtheRapid
AssessmentofNeedsandServicesmethod
JanaMali
∗
,VeraGrebenc
UniversityofLjubljana,FacultyofSocialWork,Ljubljana,Slovenia
Abstract
ThemethodofRapidAssessmentofNeedsandServicesispresentedinthearticleasthebasic
methodforresearchingtheneedsofdifferentgroupsofpeopleandasgroundforthedevelop-
mentofresponses(services)incommunities. Itisoneofthebasicresearchmethodsusedin
aholisticandhermeneuticapproachtothedevelopmentofsocialworktheoryandpractice.
The method is a combination of qualitative research methods, techniques and approaches
mainlyincludinggroundedtheory,ethnographyandactionresearch,which,dependingon
theresearchaims,isfurthercomplementedwithasetofmethodsfromquantitativeresearch
methodology. Thedecisionaboutthechoiceofresearchmethodsandprocedurescombined
within the Rapid Assessment of Needs and Services method depends on each individual
researchsituationandtheaimsandobjectivesoftheconcreteresearchproject. Dependingon
theaimandobjectivesoftheRapidAssessmentofNeedsandServices,oneofthemethods
canbeprevalentorallmethodscanberepresentedinanequalshareorincombinationwith
othersocialscientificresearchmethods,bothqualitativeandquantitative,whichispresented
inthisarticlewiththeexamplesofthreestudiesonlong-termcareinSlovenia.
Keywords: mixedmethods,triangulation,socialwork,long-termcare,needsassessment
1. Introduction
InsocialworktheRapidAssessmentofNeedsandServicesmethod(hereinafterRANS)
was developed on the basis of a manual developed by the World Health Organisation for
the needs of research into risky practices among vulnerable population groups (Stimson
et al., 1998).
1
It is based on the mixed methods of qualitative and quantitative research
∗
Correspondingauthor
Emailaddresses: jana.mali@fsd.uni-lj.si(JanaMali),vera.grebenc@fsd.uni-lj.si(Vera
Grebenc)
ORCIDiDs: 0000-0001-7851-6216(JanaMali), 0000-0002-7419-3840(VeraGrebenc)
1
Originalmanualsweredesignedtosupporttheresearchofharmreductionstrategiesintheintravenoususe
ofdrugsandrisksexperiencedbysexualworkers. ThemethodwasnamedRapidAssessmentandResponse
(RAR).ThemethodinthispaperiscalledtheRapidAssessmentofNeedsandServicesmethod(RANS)because,
in Slovenia, it was developed at the Faculty of Social Work of the University of Ljubljana. For over twenty
years,ithasalsobeenevolvingasamethodofassessingneedsforlong-termcareandplanningtheprocessesof
deinstitutionalizationinwhichnewservicesplayimportantroleinprovidinglong-termcare(Flakeretal.,2019).

2 MaliandGrebenc
andtriangulationofsources(e.g. combinationofethnographicanddemographicdata). In
combiningmethodsandresourcesRANSenablesustofocusonmultiplelevels(individual,
systemic and cultural) of the understanding of the research problems, allowing for rapid
capturing and analysis of data, as well as facilitating the planning of rapid and urgent
interventionsinthecommunity. Besidestherationaluseofresourcesandtime,atthesame
timemixedmethodsresearchdoesnotcompromisethequalityofresearchworkbut,quite
thecontrary,itprovidesamorereliableandcomprehensivepictureoftheresearchproblem.
Focusing on the practical value of findings including the action potential of the research
process,RANScorrespondstotheprinciplesofresearchinsocialwork.
The aim of the article is to present the key characteristics of RANS in the research of
long-termcareforolderpeople,whichhasbeengaininggroundasaspecificareaofsocial
work(Beltran&Miller,2020;Mali,2019;Mali&Grebenc,2021;Perryetal.,2020). Due
to its pragmatic nature and methodological adaptability to different research contexts in
order to achieve the largest possible applicative effects, the scope of the usefulness of this
methodismuchbroaderthanothermethodsandnotspecificallyrelatedtosocialwork,but
extendingtothewiderareaofsocialandmedicalsciences. Itspragmaticnatureshowsatthe
threelevelsofsocialaction: micro-level(thelevelofindividualsparticipatinginresearch),
meso-level(communityorlocalenvironmentandlong-termcareorganisationsworkingin
the environment) and macro-level (policy level, i.e., policy measures for changes in long-
term care). The aim of the method is to achieve the applicative effects of transversality
and connectivity at all levels, because this, in turn, also triggers effects in the theoretical
understandingofresearchphenomena. Theusefulnessofthismethodmakesthebasisfornew
theoreticalknowledgevitaltoachievebetteranswerstotheneedsandgroundthedevelopment
ofnewandbetterpractices.
ThefoursectionsofthearticlepresentthespecificcharacteristicsofRANSintheresearch
ofpeople’sneedsforlong-termcareasthemethodthatcapturesthecomplexityoftheirlives
inaholisticandparticipatoryway. Section2describestheresearchspecificitiesoftheRANS
method,whicharerelatedtoactionresearchtoensuredevelopmentalandinnovativechanges
inthecommunity. Themethod’sbasicprinciplespresentedinSection3areexplainedthrough
three concrete studies of long-term care in Slovenia. Triangulation and mixed methods
approacharepresentedinSection4,whileSection5synthesisesthefindingsregardingthe
RANSmethodintermsofitsusefulnessintheresearchoflong-termcare.
2. PresentationoftheRapidAssessmentofNeedsandServicesmethod
In Slovenia, RANS was developed at the Faculty of Social Work at the University of
Ljubljana as the basic method for researching the needs of different groups of people and
asthebasisforthedevelopmentofresponsesincommunities. Foratleastthepast20years
it has been developed as the method of the assessment of needs for long-term care, and
planningtheprocessesofdeinstitutionalisation(Flakeretal.,2019). Ithasbecomeoneofthe
basicresearchmethodsinsocialwork,enablingaholisticandhermeneuticdevelopmentof
theoryandpracticeinsomeofitsbasicfields(Danchev&Ross,2014). Itisacombinationof
qualitativeresearchmethods,techniquesandapproaches,mainlyincludinggroundedtheory,
ethnographyandactionresearch. Dependingontheresearchaimsitisfurthercomplemented
withmethodsfromthesetoftoolsandapproachesinquantitativeresearchmethodology. The
decisionaboutthechoiceofresearchmethodsandprocessestobecombinedwithintheRANS
methoddependsoneachindividualresearchsituationandontheaimsandobjectivesofthe
concreteresearchproject. DependingontheaimandobjectivesofRANS,eitheroneofthe

Researchinglong-termcareforolderpeople... 3
methodscanprevailortheycanallberepresentedtoasimilarextentorincombinationswith
additional,bothqualitativeandquantitative,methodsofsocialscienceresearch. Therefore,it
involvesafairlyflexibleresearchapproachwhichincludesmixedmethodsresearch.
The central concept of research with RANS includes hermeneutic understanding of
the needs of people who need long-term care and shaping responses to their needs. The
hermeneuticcircularprocessofperceivingrealityanddevelopingknowledge,typicallyused
insocialwork(Flaker,2012;Longhofer&Floersch,2014),showsitselfindifferentaspects.
Tomentionafew: (i)thatthetheoryofsocialworkisshapedfromtheconcretepracticeof
socialwork,whichatthesametimeisdevelopedonthebasisofthetheoryofsocialwork;
(ii)thedistressofpeople,individualsandgroupsisunderstoodasstemmingfromexisting
socialconditionswhichcanbeidentifiedthroughresearchingconcretepeople’s“lotsinlife”;
people’sneedsforlong-termcarearedefinedthroughresearchingtheworldoftheusersof
long-termcareservices,andatthesametimetheirworldisunderstoodandresearchedonthe
basisofpeople’sneedsforlong-termcare.
The complex design of the RANS method is especially useful in long-term care, as
weshallillustratewithconcreteexamplesinthecontinuation. Socialworkneedsresearch
methods that can be directly and concretely used to create solutions that work (Alston &
Bowles, 2003). Such methods will enable social workers not only to detect and describe
people’sneedsanddistress,buttodiscoverresponsestotheirneedsduringresearch,allowing
us to put forward and design concrete proposals to create solutions to concrete needs, and
enablepositivechangesinthecommunity(Phinneyetal.,2016). Aspecificcharacteristicof
RANS,notonlyimportantinlong-termcareandsocialwork,butalsoinotherfieldsofsocial
andmedicalscienceresearch,isitsorientationtoactionandthesearchforconcretesolutions
forproblemsinaccordancewithpeople’sneeds,desiresandinterests. Thepragmaticnature
of this method lies in its enabling action, activating the community and all those whom
individualphenomenonconcerns,aswellasfacilitatingcommondiscussionandagreement
abouttheprioritiesofjointactionortheactionofindividualactors(Flakeretal.,2019).
Its effects in practice are scientifically grounded, which is why this method has the
characteristicofactionresearch. Mesec(2006)definesactionresearchasresearchchanging
societywithnewknowledge,theoryandfindings,whileatthesametimedefiningchangesin
it. The result is action, change at the practical level encouraged by the participation of all
thosewhoparticipateinresearch. Insocialworkthismethodisusedaccordingtothesocial
work principles of including the user perspective and the development of the community.
AlstonandBowles(2003)pointoutthatthisinvolvesthecooperationandinclusionofallthe
participants in research, both the researchers and the researched, to jointly create a theory
basedonthereflectionoftheirpractice,andatthesametimecreatechangeintheenvironment,
where their practice takes place. We cannot speak of RANS, when there is no action and
participatory research. In other words, RANS is more than just combining methods and
research techniques: it is the way people work together in the processes of changing and
developing the community and creating meaningful, useful and efficient ways of meeting
people’sneeds,desiresandinterests.
Thesecondcharacteristicofthismethodisthatitenablestheoverviewoftheextentofa
phenomenoninachosenresearcharea. Itisusedtoestablishtheincidenceanddistribution
of a phenomenon in national and local contexts, and the causes for its occurrence, as well
as to conduct research typical of epidemiological research in medical science. In a wide
varietyofresearchphenomenaandenvironmentsRANSinitiallyservestoexaminewhatis
already known about a phenomenon in an environment, what data about the phenomenon
and the environment are available, and how existing data can be used. At the same time it

4 MaliandGrebenc
helps us establish where further research is needed and how to increase knowledge about
a phenomenon to be able to assess the extent and characteristics of the phenomenon and
recommend adequate measures (Flaker et al., 2019). Each individual research situation
requirestheassessmentofdatathatisneeded,whichexistingdatacanbeusedforthestudy
andhowitcanbeincludedintheRANScontext. Rapidassessmentandresponserequiresan
analyticalreviewoftheexistingfactsrecordedinstatisticaldata,reports,studiesandother
documents. Atfirstsightthesedataperhapsdonotseemdirectlyrelatedtotheresearchfield
inwhichRANSisused,buttheyareimportanttounderstandthecontextandplacementof
newly acquired data (Creswell & Creswell, 2013). This is why the existing data is always
assessed with regard to the research aim and objectives. This approach usually saves time
andmoneyorhelpsstartfieldworkmorequicklyandanalytically.
Wecandecidetoincludeandusestatisticaldataandquantitativeresearchmethodswithin
RANS at different stages of research: not only at the beginning of the research, but also
later, when we see it is possible or it makes sense to analyse the existing numerical data
aboutacertainphenomenon(suchasdatafromthestatisticaldatabasesandotherresearch
databases),ortorelativelyquicklyacquirenewnumericaldatathroughaquantitativestudy
(e.g. aboutthenumberofpotentialserviceusers). Acquisitionofstatisticalandnumerical
data is primarily important from the aspect of the understanding of the demographic and
economic characteristics of the environment in which needs arise; assessing the extent of
therelevantphenomenaandtrends(suchas,populationratiosbygender,age,workactivity,
daily migration, social vulnerability and poverty); the extent and trends of needs (such as
thenumberofolderpeoplewhoneedhelpwithcertaindailychores);theassessmentofthe
resourcesinthecommunity(e.g. theavailablespatialcapacitiesofthemunicipality,dataon
sponsorresourcesanddonationsavailableforthedevelopmentoflong-termcare). Numerical
datacanalsohelpusassesscertainrisksandobstaclesinplanninglong-termcare(e.g. data
onthetrafficsafetyofolderpeopleinamunicipality,domesticviolence,thenumberofthe
beneficiariesofsocialbenefits)(Mali&Grebenc,2021).
TheRANSmethodcomprisesknowledgecomingfromtwosocalleddatapools,namely,
thepoolofavailableandexistingdata(e.g. availablestatisticaldatabases,researchreports,
internalstatisticsofinstitutions),andthepoolofnewlyacquireddataobtainedinthefieldand
incontactwithresearchparticipants. Fieldworkplaysthekeyroleintheactioncomponentof
RANS,andfieldworkdataalsohelpsusobtaintheethnographicpictureofthecommunity
andpeople’sneeds. Empiricalfieldresearchfocusesonacquiringknowledgeofthemanifest
characteristicsoftheresearchproblem. Wetrytounderstandhowpeoplelive,whatspecific
life situations they experience, and most importantly, how they respond to and cope with
them (Mesec, 2006). Ethnographic research involves getting to know people’s habits, life
coursesandcustomsincludingculturalcharacteristicsinthebroadercontext,andthevalues
andnormsguidingpeople’slivesinanarrowercontext.
The purpose of this method is twofold. On the one hand assessment includes needs
(extent,type,intensity,characteristicsetc.),andontheotheritincludesresponses(thosewe
knowandareavailable,andthosethatstillneedtobedevelopedforwhichweneedaction
—changes). Needsassessmentismainlytheanalyticalassessmentofthesituationandthe
availableresources. Thisisthebasisforcreatingtheguidelinesfornewandrequiredresources.
Moreover,RANShelpsusshaperesearch-basedproposalsfornecessaryinterventionsthat
canbeimplementedthroughadequateplanning.
TakingthisasitsresearchstartingpointtheRANSmethodisundoubtedlydevelopmental,
becauseitencouragesinnovationandhelpspromotedevelopmentatthelevelofindividuals,
communityandsociety(Flakeretal.,2019). Itspotentialrangesfromtheimprovementof



6 MaliandGrebenc
theneedsindicators. AftertheprojectwasconcludedtheMunicipalityofLjubljanaprepared
a new strategy of social and health care based on the results of the study. The other two
studies, in which we used RANS for long-term care needs, were carried out in two small
municipalitiesinSlovenia,StražaandŽirovnica,locatedintheSouthandNorth-Westofthe
countryrespectively. Inbothmunicipalitiestheresearchaimwastodesignadevelopment
plan for care services for older people in the community, based on which strategy for the
developmentoflong-termcareservicesinthesemunicipalitieswasadopted(Mali&Grebenc,
2019).
The research characteristics connecting all three studies and showing the principles of
research according to the RANS method include: rapidity, cost-effectiveness, the use of
existingdata,actionresearch,aswellasinvestigativeanddialogicorientation.
Asitsnameindicates,oneofthecharacteristicsofRANSisrapidity. Insocialsciences
thetimeusedforresearchusuallydependsonthedurationofprojectsandstudies,whichis
determinedbythefundersandcommissioners. Inlong-termcareresearchtimeisextremely
importantbecausechangesplannedforthisgroupofpeoplecancriticallyinfluencethecourses
oftheirlives(Leichsenringetal.,2013). Moreover,inneedsresearchtimeisanimportant
componentbecausesomeneedsarerelatedtothemomentaryandacutesituationsthatpeople
experience,whichrequireemergencyinterventionstokeeporimprovetheirqualityoflife.
If research continues indefinitely, the proposed changes can be unreal and also unfeasible,
jeopardising one of the basic characteristics of RANS, i.e., its orientation to action. Our
RANSprojects(inthemunicipalitiesofStražaandŽirovnica)showedthatacleartimeline
wasneededinresearch,becausethiswastheonlywayforthemayorstobe,inturn,ableto
definethetimelinefortheimplementationoftheproposedchangesatthelocallevel. Itisan
illusionthatresearchcanbeacceleratedsimplybyrelyingonRANSasopposedtotraditional
empiricalresearch,ifthereisnofirmcommitmentinthelocalcommunitytoputtheresearch
resultsintopractice. Instead,acleartimeplanisneeded,and,ofcourse,weneedtostickto
thatplan.
Rapidityisalsorelatedtoothercharacteristicsofthismethodincludingthemostoften
mentioned, cost-effectiveness,becauseanalysingtheexistingdatasavescostandtime,which
isneededforcollectingnewempiricaldata. Avoidingextensiveandlengthytechniquesen-
ablesgivingprioritytocheapersourcesofinformation(Flakeretal.,2019). Cost-effectiveness
isattractivefortherepresentativesoflocalauthoritieswishingtoacquiregoodqualitydata
inashortamountoftimeandcheaply,tointroducechanges,inparticularinlong-termcare,
which has been a topic in Slovenia for over two decades (Gregorˇ ciˇ c & Kajzer, 2021), and
still lacks the adequate legislative and financial support. The state’s stepmotherly attitude
tothesystemicintroductionoflong-termcareserviceshasbeenincreasinglycoercinglocal
communities—themunicipalities—totaketheirowninitiativeinintroducingsuchservices.
RANShasproventobeaveryusefulmethodforcommunitieswhichareawarethattoreach
thegoalsoflong-termcaretheintroductionofchangesneedstobeaddressedanalytically.
We have already mentioned the use of existing data. They can really save time and
money,butinlong-termcareatleastoneotheraspectisimportant. Withnolong-termcare
systemicallyandlegislativelyinplaceatthenationallevelthisleavestheimpression,both
inSloveniaandelsewhere,thatSloveniadoesnothaveanylongtermcareatall. Thisisnot
true. Formanyyearssomekeycomponentsoflong-termcarehavebeenused(anddeveloped)
including material resources (assistance and attendance allowance) and forms of home-
basedhelpandservices(Gregorˇ ciˇ c&Kajzer,2021). Demographicchanges,showinginthe
increasednumberofolderpeople,demandednumerousprojectsinvolvinghelp,studiesand
analysesofthesituation,mainlyinsocialandhealthcare(Hrastetal.,2020),withoccasional

Researchinglong-termcareforolderpeople... 7
projects emerging in other fields, such as the economy, agriculture and education (Mali &
Grebenc, 2021). Accordingly, the Municipality of Ljubljana prepared a map of services
includingprogrammeandserviceprovidersavailabletoolderpeopleinLjubljana(listsof
current services and types of services they provide) (Mali, 2013). The map of services
included organisations specifically designed for older people (such as care homes, Home
Care Institute, day care centres, pensioners’ associations), as well as services for different
populationgroupswhoseusersalsoincludeolderpeople(suchassocialworkcentres,primary
healthcarecentres,non-governmentalorganisations,humanitarianorganisationsetc.).
Thequestionofneedsforlong-termcareservicesisthetopicreachingmanyspheresof
society,anddirectlyorindirectlyconcerningmanyaspectsoftheeverydaylivesofpeopleina
certaincommunity,thusitisimportantthatthesenumerousfactorsandcircumstancesarealso
reflectedintheresearchandplanningofresponses. Themoreacertainenvironment(local
communityormunicipality,region,thestate)iswillinganddecidestounderstandthequestion
oflong-termcareasacommunitytaskwhichcanconnectdifferentresourcesandnumerous
actorsinthelocalcommunity(Bernard&Rowles,2013),themorecomplexandholisticcan
betheplanofresponsestoolderpeople’sneedsinaconcretemunicipality. Thismeansthat
taking into account a given situation
2
will enable the responses to the long-term needs of
people to be placed in the context of a local community’s vision of development (such as
the activation of the local community in the creation of responses to needs, the promotion
of the local economy, respect of ecological principles and potential for self-subsistence).
Moreover,theeffectsofRANS’spotentialforactionareshowninthecumulativeandmutual
processesofneedsfulfilmentinthecommunity,when,forexample,servicesdesignedfora
groupofolderpeoplearealsobeneficialtootherresidentsinthecommunity(i.e. agefriendly
community)(Scharlach&Lehning,2016)orwhenserviceusersconcurrentlybecomethe
source of support for others. RANS is a method which, when used as an action method,
encourages the development of the community as a whole, while enabling the researched
group(inourcaseolderpeople)toinfluencetheirdefinitionofeverydaylifeissues,situations
andtypesofneedsthattheyconsiderrelevanttothem,aswellastoshaperesponsestothem.
Theinclusionofcommunityandtheintensityofworkingtogetherinthelocalenvironment
alsodependontheresearchplanandthewillingnessandpossibilitiesofthelocalcommunity
toworkwiththeresearchers. ThedirectionandintensityofresearchwiththeRANSmethod
is usually defined at the beginning of research. Initially, the sponsors or initiators of the
research(suchastheinterestedpublic)shouldharmonisetheirexpectations. Itisimportantto
makeaplananddefinetheresearchsteps,checkdatasourcesandmakeanagreementwith
theparticipantsabouttheirroleandtasks(Alston&Bowles,2003). Attheverybeginningwe
trytodetectasmanyrelevantsourcesaspossibleandrecordtherelevantkeyinformants. In
introductory meetings in the initial phase of RANS it is important to talk to the body who
commissionedthestudy(forexamplethemunicipality)aboutthedatatheycanprovide. For
anoptimumcourseofresearchandqualityresearchresultsitisimportanttoincludethelargest
possiblenetworkofactorsoflong-termcareinthelocalcommunity. Inthemunicipalitywe
needtofindoutwhichorganisationsareworkinginthefieldoflong-termcareorarerelated
toworkinthisfieldinordertocreatethemapofservicesinthecommunity,accessthelistof
existingdata,aswellasmaketheinitialcontactsinthecommunity.
InRANS,especiallyinlong-termcare,collectingnewdataisextremelyimportant. Itis
importanttobepresentinthefieldtoobtaintheclearestpossiblepictureabouthowpeople
2
Bymakingdemographicandethnographicmapsofneedsinthecommunity.

8 MaliandGrebenc
live,whattheirhabitsare,andhowthecommunityinwhichtheyliveworks(Mali&Grebenc,
2019). WhenconductingresearchintheMunicipalityofStraža,we,theresearchers,were
notfamiliarwiththecultureoftheenvironmentandhowthecommunityworkedingeneral.
Wevisitedthecommunityanumberoftimesandmadecontactswithpeoplefromboththe
municipalauthoritiesandtherepresentativesofdifferentorganisationsthathadcontactswith
older people, which was beneficial for us (Mali & Grebenc, 2021). Their representatives
wereourkeyinformants,whenmakingcontactswithpeopletoconducttheinterviews. For
example,firstthesecretaryoftheparishCaritasunitpersonallyinvitedsomeolderpeopleto
participateintheresearchand,whentheyagreed,gaveustheirtelephonenumberssothatwe
wereabletocontactthem. Then,theresearcherswhowerequalifiedtoconducttheinterviews,
arrangedvisitsdirectlywiththeinterviewees,andwhileconductingtheinterviewsbecame
acquaintedwiththeirtown,andevenexplainedtosomeofthesepeople’sneighbours,when
theyhadachance,whytheycamefromLjubljanatothispartofSlovenia;theyalsoopenly
spokeabouttheaimoftheirvisitatalocalcafélocatedinthecentreofthemunicipality,etc.
Wechosethiskindofapproach,becauseaccordingtoFlakeretal.(2019),animportantpart
oftheRANSprocessistoobtainapictureofthediverseperspectives,interestsandactivities
ofpeopleparticipatingintheresearchproblem.
The central guideline of the method is the investigative orientation. On one hand, this
isimpliedintheresearchers’positionassuch: localsparticipatingintheresearchexpectus
tobeinquisitive,curious,lookingfornewknowledgeandaskingallkindsofquestions. On
the other hand, this attitude may cause participants to withdraw and perhaps, inaccurately,
representthecharacteristicsofthephenomenaunderstudy. Intheshorttimeavailablethis
can be quite disruptive for the research. It can lead us to false conclusions or misguided
proposals. Toresolvethispredicamentitisimportantthatresearchers“actlikedetectives”. It
isalsobeneficialfortheresearchteamtoincluderesearcherswhohavesoundknowledgeof
theresearchedcommunity. Forexample,whenweworkedintheMunicipalityofŽirovnica,
in the meetings with the representatives of the municipality, as well as in the focus group
withtherepresentativesoftheactorsinlong-termcare,wewererepeatedlyassuredthatthe
peopleintheircommunitywerewell-connectedwitheachotherandtheirco-existencewas
basedonneighbourlyhelpandcare. However,wehadourdoubtsaboutthis,becausewhen
we visited the municipality we found neither a place nor an institution that looked like a
meetingplaceforthelocals,neitherdidweseethemgettingtogetherandsocialising(Mali&
Grebenc,2021). Intheresearchteammeetingwesharedourdoubtswiththewholeteam,a
partofwhichalsoincludedresearcherswholivedinthismunicipality. Theyconfirmedour
observationsandtogetherwedecidedtotakeintoaccountourownresearchfindings.
Itisthecontinuous dialoguetakingplaceduringresearchbetweentheresearchersand
thecommunitythatenablesreflectionsaboutreality. Fixedideas,stereotypesandpersonal
beliefscancreateaverydifferentpictureofanenvironmentthanthatrecognisedbyvisitors.
As researchers tend to be less familiar with the everyday life of a local community, our
questionsdirectlyinterferewiththefixedmodesofactingandbeliefs. Notonlydothealmost
automatisedandroutinisedeverydaypracticestendtobecomeself-understoodandactlike
unwritten rules that do not need to be challenged, furthermore these blind spots and grey
areasalsorepresentthebiggestobstacleswhenlookingforbettersolutions(Mesec,2006).
Ageismandfixedideasabouttheinabilityofolderpeopleontheonehand,andtheideasof
institutionalresponsesastheonlypossiblesolution,alongwiththedistanceexistingbetween
the experts and the community on the other are the source of recurring beliefs that older
peopleneedtobepatronisedandthatinstitutionsaretheonlyandmostappropriateplacesfor
those who need support in everyday life. This perspective is even more obvious when we

Researchinglong-termcareforolderpeople... 9
speakabouttheneedsofpeoplewithdementia,thechronicallyillorthosepeoplewhocannot
moveindependently(Beresfordetal.,2007). Thisiswhysomepeople’skneejerkreaction,
whenaskedaboutwhattheythinkshouldbedonewithregardtocareforolderpeople,tends
to be, build another care home. It is only when we pay attention to the everyday life of a
community,tothedesiredcoursesofitsday,andindividualactivities,valuesandexpectations
that numerous dimensions of life become visible, and diverse possibilities of adapting to
people’s needs in their usual living environment are indicated. Therefore, what people no
longerthinkaboutandtakeasobviousandonlypossiblebecomesconcealedandinvisible.
Theinvisiblecanalsobesomethingwhichthecommunityhasneverevenaskeditselfabout,
becauseofthelackofknowledgeaboutit,andmostoftenbecauseitinvolvesthephenomena
to which either society is less sensitive or they take place in intimate, hidden places (such
asproblemswithaddiction,violenceagainstolderpeople,abuseininstitutions)(Bernard&
Rowles, 2013; Biggs & Carr, 2016). The RANS method allows us to shed light on issues
whichpeoplearenotawareoforwhichseemself-understoodandseeminglyunimportant,
butreallyareofkeyimportanceforthechangeofattitudetowardsacertaingroupofpeople,
thedevelopmentofhumaneprofessionalpractices,andprogressioninknowledge.
4. Triangulationinresearchandmixedmethodsresearch
Triangulation in research is a term most often denoting the combination of qualitative
and quantitative research in social sciences. In the past decades it has gained importance,
because it is considered to be increasing the validity of results acquired in social science
research. Themainpurposeoftriangulationistoacquireamoreholisticandin-depthviewof
therealityoftheworld. Throughtriangulation,researcherstrytoidentifydifferentviewsof
theresearchedphenomenaandproblemsand,thus,ensuremorereliableconclusionsaswell
asdeepercredibleresults(HillaBrink,2018;Tashakkori&Teddlie,2003).
Whiletherearedifferentdefinitionsoftriangulation,triangulationcanbeconsidereda
simultaneous or sequential of more than one research procedure, method, data source or
technique of data collection as well as the combination of different theoretical views or
researchers(withinonedisciplineorcomingfromdifferentdisciplines)(Denzin&Lincoln,
2000). The combining and mixing of methods takes place in several ways and at multiple
levels, and enables the triangulation of data and triangulation of interpretations. Based on
multipleperceptions,triangulationincreasesthepossibilitiesofdatasaturationandreduces
blindspotsandbiasinresearch. Furthermore,inkeepingwithitsprinciplesandprocedures,
RANSisamethodwhichundoubtedlyincludestheelementsoftriangulation. Thequestionis,
however,whetherRANS’saimsreachbeyondtriangulation. Besidesachievingthevalidityand
reliabilityofresearchresults,andmeetingelevatedresearchcriteria,researchinsocialwork
aimstoforegroundthepracticaluseandvalueoftheresults(Alston&Bowles,2003;Mesec,
2006). Thismeansthatresearchdataandproceduresservetoinventnewresponses,increased
knowledge,releaseactionpotentialaswellasthepotentialtomobilisethecommunity.
ItistheveryuseofmultipledatasourcesthatisthecentralcharacteristicofRANS(Flaker
etal.,2019). Fromthefirstmomentonandduringthecourseofresearch,RANSfocuseson
thecollectionofdataandinformationfromavarietyofresources,bothexistingandpreviously
analysedaswellasnewlyacquiredinthefield,withthehelpofpeoplewhomtheresearch
problemconcerns. Inparticularwearelookingforsaturated,richdata,becauseitenablesa
rapidacquisitionofanintegratedknowledgeoftheresearchphenomenon’scharacteristics,
givingproposalsforchangeandtakingaction. Thisisanextremelycomplexfieldofresearch,
thepurposeofwhichistoimproveindividuals’livingconditions. Ourresearchcancritically

10 MaliandGrebenc
influencepeople’slives,soitisnecessaryfromanethicalpointofviewthatconclusionsand
proposalsarescientificallygroundedandvalidatedbykeyinformants,aswellasclearand
concrete,sotheycanbeusedbythecommunity(Danchev&Ross,2014). RANSdoesnot
onlyinvolvegainingabetterunderstandingofacertainproblemorphenomenonandfocusing
ontriangulationasastrategyforachievingagreaterreliabilityandvalidityofresults;italso
includestheplanningofchangeandtakingactionasitsintegralcomponents. IsRANSthen
action research with an element of triangulation, or are its characteristics different? In the
continuation we will try to give answers to this question with concrete examples from our
ownresearch.
Flakeretal.(2019)onlyfocusontriangulationinRANStogiveafewstartingpointsfor
thepresentationofitsdifferentoperations,includingtheuseofmixedmethods,multipledata
andsources. InthisrespectRANScomesclosesttothedescriptionoftriangulationbyDenzin
(1978)whodefinedfourtypesoftriangulation:
1. methodological triangulation(alsoknownasthetriangulationofprocedures)includes
thesimultaneoususeofdifferentmethods(oratleastmorethanonemethod)inone
studyorsequentialuseofoneorseveralmethodsinonestudyorarepeateduseofa
singlemethodatdifferentoccasionsinonestudy;
2. data triangulationdefinestheuseofmultipledatasources(quantitativeorqualitative)
collectedeitherwithdifferentmethodsorwithasinglemethod;
3. investigator triangulation defines cooperation between multiple researchers having
different views of and approaches to the research problem, thus contributing to the
analysisandinterpretationofdata;
4. theory triangulation defines multiple theoretical perspectives based on which re-
searchersformdifferenthypotheses,thesesandresearchquestions,andinterpretthe
results.
Methodological pluralism encompassed in the idea of triangulation is particularly ade-
quate for the types of research which require researchers to cope in diverse research situa-
tions (Kopaˇ c & Hlebec, 2020), while insisting on respecting meticulous scientific criteria
and research ethics. Research of the everyday world does not take place in controlled or
predictable settings. It is always subjected to numerous expected and unexpected factors.
Triangulationisanattemptatresponding,andawayofadjustingsocialscienceresearchto
scientificrequirementsononehandandthelimitationsofresearchpracticesontheother. It
can also be considered planned insistence on scientific criteria, but not without reflecting
onandmakingdecisionsaboutthemeaningfuluseofcertainmethods,techniques,theories,
approachesandprocedures.
ThemainpurposeofneedsresearchusingtheRANSmethodistoachieveanin-depth
andholisticunderstandingoftheneedsofacertaingroupofpeopleintheirconcreteenviron-
ment. Thisisonlypossiblebydesigningresearchinstrumentsandusingprocedureswhich
meet the plurality of opinions in everyday life. By combining qualitative and quantitative
methods, methodological triangulation enables the perception of views from different per-
spectives,whichhelpsobtainmoreexhaustiveandcomprehensiveresults(Neuman,2003).
Methodologicaltriangulationallowsustocombinetechniqueswithinasinglemethodology
(e.g. we use different quantitative questionnaires for the collection of one type of data) or
to combine different procedures or methods stemming from different methodologies (e.g.
combiningqualitativeandquantitativeprocedures,andusingtechniquesofdatacollection
suchasinterviews,focusgroupsandquantitativequestionnaires)(Denzin&Lincoln,2000).
Herewehavetocallattentiontooneofthebiggesterrorsthatoccursintheunderstanding
of triangulation. Denzin’s original idea of data triangulation is often replaced by method

Researchinglong-termcareforolderpeople... 11
triangulationinthepracticalapplicationoftriangulation(Lobe,2006). Thiserrorismainly
caused by the erroneous paraphrasing in indirect sources and by simplification. Common
misunderstandings about triangulation also arise from the use of combination and mix as
synonyms. Denzin (1978) understood triangulation as the combination of methodologies.
The authorexplainsthat the purposeof triangulationis not tomix data and“throw datain
thesamebasket”,regardlessofhowwehaveacquiredthem. Triangulationalwaysinvolves
the comparison between data acquired through different methods and techniques. Data
gatheredwithacertainmethodalsohavetobeprocessedwithinthismethod. Onlythencan
they be mutually compared. This is why, in his opinion, triangulation of data is an act in
whichdifferentcollecteddataacquiredwithdifferenttechniquesorproceduresaremutually
comparedtorevealhowdatacollectedindifferentwaysaresimilartoordifferentfromeach
other. Usually, large similarities will indicate a higher reliability of the collected data or
conclusions,whilediscrepanciesanddifferenceswillindicatethatatleastonecollectionof
dataisincompleteorincorrect(Weyersetal.,2008). Thecomparisonofdatainresearchis
believedtoincreasethereliabilityoftheresults. Inthecaseofrevealedincongruences,these
phenomenashouldbefurtherexplained. Thiscertainlyrequiresadditionaldatacollectionand
analysis,i.e.,additionalresearch(andmostoftennewcosts).
Triangulationofdatacantakeplaceinvariousways. Weyersetal.(2008)describethree
examples: (i)triangulationofroutinelycollecteddata(forexample,withinterviewsorsurveys
amongusers)cross-checkedandcommentedbyindependentsources;(ii)anexampleofdata
triangulation, when the collected data and research results are commented on by users or
otherkeyinformants(thisishowweconducteddatatriangulationinallofourstudiesusing
RANS);(iii)anexample,wherethedatacollectedwasverifiedbyresearchersinthereview
studyusinganindependentsourceorwhenfielddatawascomparedtotheexistingofficial
data.
The combination of methods and techniques is of key importance for the research un-
dertakenaccordingtotheRANSprinciples,becauseresearchtakesplacesimultaneouslyat
severallevelsofsociety. Wearenotmovingonlyatthemicrolevel(thelevelofindividual),
themesolevel(thelevelofthecommunityandorganisations)andmacrolevel(thestateand
society),butalsowithinsocialactionindifferentcontexts,suchas“social,cultural,religious,
political and historical” (Flaker et al., 2019). This is why it is important to use different
methodsofsocialresearchinonestudy. Forexample,RANSattheMunicipalityofLjubljana
includedthreemethodsandtechniquesofcollectingempiricalmaterial:
• interviews(usingstructuredandsemi-structuredquestionnaires)withinformants(rep-
resentativesofthetargetgroupandservicesuppliers);
• observationbyparticipation(fourthyearstudents’journalsfromstudypracticumplace-
mentsincarehomesandday-carecentresoperatingintheMunicipalityofLjubljana)
andinfocusgroupsinthesupervisorymeetings;
• ad hoc information (information that the members of the research team acquired in
ad hoc meetings with older people living in Ljubljana, information acquired in the
meetings with professionals, such as, conferences and training, information in the
media,etc.)(Grebenc,2014).
These methods helped us acquire five different data collections to analyse, and obtain
five separate needs assessments: (i) the assessment of the needs of older people living in
the community, (ii) the assessment of the needs of the users of the services of Home Care
Institute in Ljubljana, (iii) the assessment of the needs as perceived by professionals in
community nursing service and home-based personal care workers, (iv) needs assessment
basedonstudents’journalsinpracticumplacements,(v)acollectionofadhocinformation

12 MaliandGrebenc
aboutolderpeople’sneeds.
Interviews with older people provided an insight into the usual courses of the day of
different groups of older people, the existing assistance in the community, and typical
situationsinwhichpeopleneedlongtermcare. Thelistofneedsforlong-termcareservices
wascomplementedwiththeneedsassessmentbyprofessionalswhoatthesametimeinformed
us about the advantages and disadvantages of existing social and health care services. For
theadditionalverificationofresultsweuseddatafromtheanalysesofstudents’practicum
journals and reflections from focus groups. Throughout the research we paid attention to
information“offeringitself”tous,whicheithercorroboratedorcomplementedthecollected
data or revealed potential gaps in the research. Sometimes field information was verified
by ad hoc conversations from the field, when we were in doubt about how to interpret it
(for example, we consulted with an older person with experience or a professional highly
competentinaspecificareaofwork).
Fieldmaterialwascomplementedwithothermultiplesources:
• informationfromtheexistinginformationsystems: suchashealth,police,social(we
askedtheLjubljanaPoliceDirectoratetogiveusdataaboutthenumberofolderpeople
whowerevictimsofcriminaloffences);
• collectionofexistingstatisticalandqualitativedata(StatisticalYearbookofLjubljana,
CentralPopulationRegister);
• acquisitionofdatafromarchivesofservicesandinstitutions(internaldocumentation
oftheHomeCareInstitute).
Besides data existing strategic documents at the level of the state, the EU and interna-
tional institutions are of key importance when trying to understand the vision and macro-
environment(systems,policies),suchas: thenationalprogrammeofcareforolderpeople,
long-termcare,healthcare,andthedevelopmentoflocalcommunities.
From the aspect of RANS, triangulation of data is important from several aspects: it
helpsincreasethereliabilityofresultsintermsofcoveringthewholeheterogeneityofthe
phenomenon and providing insight into the scope and trends of needs for long-term care.
Methodologicaltriangulation(whendataarecollectedwithseveralmethodswithinasingle
study)isimportantinacquiringtheclearestandmostin-depthpossiblepictureoftheseneeds.
Ifwe donotfocus onlyonprofessionals’narratives, butchoose tocombinethemwith the
methodsofresearchconductedamongusersandrelatives,thisprovidesseparateprocedures
of acquiring the descriptions of the situations of needs. Their comparison will then show
whetheracommunityiswellacquaintedwiththesituationinthefieldorifthereareneedsthat
arecompletelyoverlooked. Consequently,thepictureiscomplementedbyboth,thesources
acquired in the field (interviews) and those that have already been published or recorded
(statisticaldata,documents,newspaperarticles,onlineforumsetc.). Therefore,bothtypesof
triangulation(ofmethodsanddata)areinthefunctionofgroundingandunderstandingneeds
(whyandhowtheyemerge,howpeopleexperiencethem,whattheythinkaboutthem),the
assessmentofthescopeofthephenomenonandthemakingofanexactandholisticpicture
oftheneedsinthecommunity. InRANS,triangulationisusedforprofessionalstoremain
notonlyfocusedonapartofneedsinthecommunity,buttobeabletodetecttheneedsofthe
entirepopulationofolderpeopleinneedoflong-termcare. Forexample,itisnotenoughto
onlyconductresearchamongpeoplewhousetheservicesofsocialworkcentres, because
we do not acquire information about the needs of people who are not looking for services
providedbythecentresorarenotfamiliarwiththem.
FromtheaspectofRANS,thedecisiontousetriangulationpresumesaclearidentification
oftherelevantandkeyinformantswho,importantly,co-createthecomplementarypictureof

Researchinglong-termcareforolderpeople... 13
needsforlong-termcareservicesinthecommunity. Triangulation,asusedinRANS,focuses
onthedeeperunderstandingoftheresearchedphenomenon. Inthisrespectitisimportant
to create the combinations of sources and methods in which informants (people) or types
ofmessage(data)aremutuallyandmeaningfullycomplemented,ratherthanremainingina
singlecommunicationenvironment,groupordiscourse.
5. Conclusion
RANSisneverjustanexerciseinresearch,becauseresearchusingRANSinterfereswith
people’severydaylives. Instead,itaimstoencouragethecommunitytoshapeimportantand
usefulgoalsandvisions.
Thus,wecanconcludethatRANSallowsforamixedmethodsapproach,itismorethan
just triangulation in research, and that the making of any research design should prioritise
action research. Methodological and data triangulation are an inseparable part of RANS
and are used in all the research of needs carried out in the community. It is only possible
to understand people’s needs by carefully considering the different factors in society that
influencepeople’severydaylives. WecannotspeakofRANSifwedonotplanchangesin
theexistingsystemoflong-termcare,giveconcreteproposalsandsolutionsforchange,and
shapeclearlysetstrategiesforputtinginplacelong-termcare.
NotablyitwasbyusingRANSinourresearchthatwesucceededinassertingtheprinciples
of long-term care in local communities, despite the fact that at the systemic (macro) level,
long-termcareinSloveniaisstillunderdeveloped. Therefore,triangulationistheresearchrule
ofourresearchstrategy,helpingustoachievedatasaturation,thegroundingofconclusions,
andtheshapingofusefulandconcreteproposals. Atthesametime,triangulationisaprinciple
enablingustoworkaccordingtotheresearchethicsinsocialworkbasedontheparadigmof
userparticipation,normalisationofeverydaylife,empowermentanddialogue.
WedonotseeresearchwiththeRANSmethodasarigiduseofresearchtechniques,but
primarilyasaconstantandcarefulconsiderationoftheresearchstepsintermsoftheirvalue
fortheusers. Thecentralfocusliesontheaspectsofactionresearchandtheusefulnessof
researchdataforthedevelopmentofresponsesinthecommunity. Thescientificlegitimacy
andvalidityofresearchareprovidedthroughevidence-basedconclusionsandtransparency
inmanagingtheentireresearchprocess. Thisincludesthedetailedtrackingoftheresearch
processandtheverificationofresultsatanytime. Thereupon,thisenablesustomeetallthe
keycriteriaforprovidingthevalidityofresults. Accordingtothesecriteria,assummarised
by Amerson (2011), conclusions (findings) are only proven by using several data sources
(triangulation),maintainingconsecutivedataprocessingandthegroundingofconclusions,
andenablingkeyinformantstoreviewandconfirmthedatatheycontributed.
Inthispaper,wewantedtohighlightthespecificsofthemethodanditsapplication,as
well as the benefits and opportunities for research in long-term care. This does not mean
that we should not also be critical of the method. In particular, we must pay attention
to the shortcomings in further research, in which we will use RANS to enable its further
development.
Acknowledgment
This research was financially supported by the Slovenian Research Agency within the
researchprogramP5–0058andtheresearchprojectJ5–2567(Long-termCareofPeoplewith
DementiainSocialWorkTheoryandPractice).

14 MaliandGrebenc
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