Designing Aging Reflection Probes to Elicit Self-Perception of Aging (SPA) Beliefs of Older Adults in India

Age-related transitions can influence older adults’ internalized aging beliefs, or Self-Perception of Aging (SPA). Previous studies have shown correlations between SPA and the well-being of older adults. However, there is a lack of specific tools to gain an in-depth understanding of SPA beliefs. This pictorial provides a detailed description of a probe designed to collect SPA-related insights directly from older adults. We describe the iterative co-design process of the 7-day Aging Reflection probe kit, incorporating feedback from pilot and focus group sessions with participants to refine the final design. We also highlight the design decisions made for the cultural adaptation of the probes to ensure they resonate with Indian participants. Our probe kit was instrumental in creating dialogue with participants about various aspects of SPA. Participants used the probes to refresh their memory during follow-up interviews. Insights from the probes played a critical role in conducting semi-structured interviews, advancing our understanding of how to operationalize SPA in HCI research and design.