Participatory approaches in research with older adults – Navigating the complexity and messiness

This symposium explores the evolving landscape of participatory research and its complexities in the everyday practices and interactions in research with older adults. Participatory methods have been developed since the 1960s, particularly in the last decade there is growing attention for these approaches, because of their potential to democratize the research process, create spaces for marginalized voices, provide multiple perspectives, foster mutual learning, collective action, collaborative outputs, and ultimately, contribute to social and epistemic justice. However, the collaborations between a diverse group of stakeholders in PAR-studies can be complex and messy. This symposium will pay particular attention to the knotty and murky work that comes with these kinds of research approaches, and the limits to and openings for empowerment, equality and justice that become visible in this work.