Paper Short Abstract:

While participatory research is praised for challenging ageism, empirical evidence remains limited. The paper reviews studies on its impact on older adults’ self-conceptions and societal status, focusing on "unwriting" ageism. We also reflect on involving older adults in shaping our research process.

Paper Abstract:

Participatory research is frequently praised for its emancipatory potential in age studies and related fields. However, these claims often lean more on hopeful assertions than empirical proof. Despite widespread declarations about the positive effects of participatory research, systematic empirical evidence remains limited and fragmented.

This paper critically reviews existing works on how participatory research influences older adults’ self-conceptions and societal standing. It explores how participatory methodologies are linked to reducing ageism, drawing on Butler's (1969) foundational work on age discrimination. Our analysis focuses on the conceptual frameworks employed to assess the social impact of participatory research, particularly concerning age-related stigma and stereotyping.

We examine two key impact levels: the individual level, framed as personal empowerment and emancipation, and the socio-economic level, conceptualised as countering structural age discrimination. The paper dissects the criteria and metrics commonly used to evaluate these impacts, highlighting strengths, limitations, and gaps in current empirical approaches.

Additionally, we reflect on the process of involving older adults in our scoping review’s design (Munn et al., 2018; Westphaln et al., 2021). We discuss how older participants were involved and shaped the study by suggesting relevant questions, selecting focus areas, and commenting on findings. This participatory element not only informed the research process but also provided a practical test case for assessing the potential of co-research to challenge ageist narratives.

By bridging theory and practice, this paper aims to advance understanding of how participatory research can help “unwrite” ageism in academic and societal contexts.