Sociology, Psychology, and the Theoretical Legacy of the Kansas City Studies

The theoretical impact of the Kansas City Studies stems from issues ignored as much as from those addressed. The largest concerted gerontological investigation of its day had a profound influence on the field through publications and through students trained through the studies. The studies advanced the search for "normal" aging but did not initially adequately address diversity. However, over time, investigators were forced to recognize diversity in their data. They contributed to viewing aging in a life course perspective, an advance over previous emphases on "the aged." The studies adopted and furthered a highly individualistic understanding of aging, while the sociological analyses from the studies lacked an adequate conceptualization of social structure.