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Collecting data on age

There are some recommendations when collecting data on participant ages:

• Age-inclusive language should avoid referring to someone’s age, unless relevant and necessary. The language used should recognize people for what they are and their individual characteristics, and not draw correlations or assumptions because of their age
• Similarly, language that stereotypes or implies that a particular age cohort has certain abilities or inabilities, or has stereotypical characteristics because of their age, should be avoided. For example, a mature workforce, instead use phrases such as experienced workforce.
• Terms to avoid for older people include the elderly, geriatric the old, pensioners, “boomers”, old-folks, senior citizens; instead use older adults, older people or ages XX and over.

The following is a way age can be asked and collected in an inclusive way:

Q. What is your age?

• Under 18 years
• 18-24 years
• 25-34 years
• 35-44 years
• 45-54 years
• 55-64 years
• 65-74 years
• 75-84 years
• 85-94 years
• 95 or over

Avoid using references to ageing or being old e.g. How old are you?