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Looking Back, Looking Forward

The aim of this article is to examine the use of the Self-Discovery Tapestry (SDT) tool, a life history review instrument, and its application to an Australian qualitative study of community-dwelling older people aged 80 years and more. The researchers set out to engage with older people through an innovative research approach that acknowledged their experiences and recognized their skills and capacities across the course of their lives. The article reports and assesses this research instrument as a tool for gathering data in narrative studies involving older people. It proposes that the instrument, with some modifications might be used to further develop specific knowledge of aging to benefit research, education, and practice in gerontology. By undertaking to critique the research processes, the authors hope to show the value of incorporating a critical appraisal approach that may prove useful for strengthening further research in this area of inquiry.