Fieldwork

The research project Eating Matters has completed its fieldwork in Andalusia, Catalonia and the País Valencià. Between June and November 2021 around 20 people -including researchers and support staff- were involved in this work.

The fieldwork consisted of research trips of territorial working teams in different neighbourhoods and municipalities of these three autonomous communities. Throughout the field stays, each team conducted interviews with elderly people, collecting their food diaries over a period of five days. This was complemented with life histories of people over 65. To investigate the situation of the older population from other perspectives, interviews were conducted with key informants (experts, social and health professionals, organisations, and activists) and focus groups were organised.

The choice of the neighbourhoods and municipalities where the fieldwork was carried out considered the objectives of the research and criteria of heterogeneity based on social, demographic, and environmental characteristics.

• In Andalusia a research stay was carried out in the municipalities of Humilladero (Málaga) and in the city of Granada during the months of June and July. Humilladero is a municipality of more than three thousand inhabitants and Granada has a significant rate of ageing and low-income population.
• In the País Valencià, in the municipality of Teresa (Castellón), a village with approximately 250 inhabitants. Fieldwork was also carried out in the city of Valencia.
• In Catalunya, in the city of Barcelona (three neighbourhoods), the city of Tarragona and different municipalities in the regions of Tarragonés, Terra Alta, Ribera d'Ebre and Priorat. Specifically in areas with a high rate of ageing population.