Project Description
Selecting Participants
The method used to select participants for the TILDA study was designed to ensure that the sample would be representative of the Irish population aged 50 and over. An initial multi-stage sample of addresses was chosen by means of the RANSAM sampling procedure, which was developed by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) based on the Irish Geodirectory, a comprehensive listing/mapping of residential addresses in Ireland compiled by the Ordinance Survey Office. Each address in the country has an equal probability of selection from the sample list of addresses.
A nationally representative sample of at least 8,000 adults aged 50 and over, resident in Ireland, was selected using a population sift. The selected addresses were visited by an interviewer from Ipsos MORI and all persons aged 50 or over (and their spouses/partners of any age) were canvassed to participate in the survey. Over 8,500 participants took part in Wave 1 of the study.
Interviews and Health Assessments
Fieldwork involves interviews using computer-aided personal interviewing (CAPI) techniques and either a visit by the respondent to a TILDA Health Assessment Centre, where appropriate medical measurement facilities were available, or a visit to the respondents' home by a qualified research nurse to take physical measurements and bio-medical samples. All respondents are also requested to fill out a self-completion questionnaire.
What data does TILDA collect?
TILDA collects a wide range of data on the health, economic and social aspects of participants' lives through personal interviews, self-completion questionnaires and health assessment measures.
Computer-Aided Personal Interviews & Self-Completion Questionnaires |
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Demographic data
Socioeconomic data
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General health-related data
Social support & intergenerational transfers
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Mood and mental situation
Personal health behaviours
*Grip strength and walking speed physical measures are taken during interview-only waves. |
Health Assessment |
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Cognition/Neuropsychological
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Cardiovascular
Strength and Bone Density
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Gait, Balance and Sensory
Macular Degeneration
*A venous blood sample is collected. |