ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to address informed consentprocess for community-dwelling older adults to take part in socialresearch by theoretical review and empirical survey. Data wereobtained form 201 community-residing older adults. According toliterature review on informed consent, valid consent can only begiven when potential research participant has the capacity toconsent to research. The results revealed that 83.9% of the samplehad the capacity to consent to research and 16.1% failed to showthe capacity. In addition, the level of education was significantlyrelated with the older adults’ capacity to consent to research. Olderadults with high level of education were more likely to have thecapacity. Based on the findings of this study, implications forgerontological research were discussed.