Participatory action research with older adults: key principles in practice

Although participatory action research (PAR) is increasingly viewed as an important complement to traditional investigator-driven research, relatively little PAR has taken place in which older adults have been prominent partners. This article provides a review of the literature on PAR in gerontology, highlighting key studies and their implications.

We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and ERIC for relevant articles, supplementing our results through the bibliographies of articles identified and consultation with colleagues. This search yielded 75 articles of potential relevance, of which we selected 13 (covering 10 studies) that best adhered to the roles of PAR in gerontology.

PAR projects with older adults have utilized a variety of research methodologies in a broad range of social contexts. Each of the 10 studies examined illustrates several core principles of PAR. Furthermore, while suffering from some methodological limitations, each also highlights value added in terms of research quality, elders' skill building, and/or action outcomes.

Involving older adults in PAR, while labor intensive and challenging, may offer promise as an underdeveloped resource for the field of social gerontology, as well as for elders themselves.