The theoretical impact of the Kansas City Studies stems from issues ig
nored as much as from those addressed. The largest concerted gerontolo
gical investigation of its day had a profound influence on the field t
hrough publications and through students trained through the studies.
The studies advanced the search for ''normal'' aging hut did not initi
ally adequately address diversity. However, over time, investigators w
ere forced to recognize diversity in their data. They contributed to v
iewing aging in a life course perspective, an advance over previous em
phases on ''the aged.'' The studies adopted and furthered a highly ind
ividualistic understanding of aging, while the sociological analyses f
rom the studies lacked an adequate conceptualization of social structu
re.