Enacting the Principles of Participatory Action Research (PAR): Reflections From the Initial Stages of a Project With Older Adults With Vision Loss

Introduction: While existing reflections on participatory action research (PAR) emphasize the benefits experienced by participants in such studies, they often fail to critically interrogate the PAR process. This gap underscores the significance of process-oriented papers that illuminate the dynamics, supports, and hurdles of PAR, crucial for aligning scholarly endeavors with its fundamental principles of equitable participation, social transformation, and reflexivity. This paper aimed to bridge these gaps by presenting insights from both older adults with age-related vision loss (ARVL) and university researchers, shedding light on their application of PAR principles during the initial stages of a project focused on identifying research priorities. Methods: The foundational PAR study, forming the basis of this paper, involved eight older adults aged 65 and above with ARVL. Additionally, three university researchers participated, including a faculty member and two students (one pursuing a PhD and the other an MSc). The PAR process encompassed three half-day meetings, dedicated to investigating how environmental factors (physical, social, cultural, political, and institutional) influence the engagement of older adults with ARVL in their daily activities. Following completion of the three half-day meetings, the university co-researchers conducted individual interviews with each older adult, as well as a collective reflexive exercise involving the university co-researchers, to delve into their personal journey through the PAR process, encompassing achievements, challenges, and encountered tensions. Results: The study’s outcomes were distilled into three central thematic domains: (1) attentiveness to power differentials; (2) realization of personal and social transformation; and (3) a steadfast commitment to reflexivity. Discussion: This paper endeavors to fill a void within the existing PAR landscape by providing process-oriented insights that spotlight the intricacies of the PAR journey, inclusive of encountered challenges. By candidly acknowledging these challenges, future scholars will be better equipped to harness PAR in a manner that is truly aligned with its core principles.