This can be a contentious area for some academics, while for others, it is a matter of routine. Some academic disciplines lend themselves more easily to activities where the public can be involved in the research, not just as subjects but as actual ‘knowledge creators’.

An example of an area where this approach is now routine is the involvement of patients in designing care regimes. This helps to ensure that the regimes meet the needs of the patients’ general wellbeing as well as their health.

It may not be obvious, but involving others in your research can often help to make the research better and increase its impact. Involving the public in your research can help open it to new points of view and ensure that the theory is grounded in practice. The public might also be able to identify new groups of people who could benefit from your research or even provide new research questions.

The Social Regeneration Unit at University of Glamorgan has trained members of communities who are the focus of research projects to collect some of the actual survey data. They have found that people are much more likely to discuss personal information, such as income levels or health-related issues, with friends or neighbours than with a university academic with a clipboard. This has meant that the surveys have had a much greater response rate, with better quality information, which can then be fed into the research study. The Unit has also been careful to make sure that the community are informed about the research findings by communicating them through the local data collectors.

Over time, we will link to or develop a series of case studies highlighting good quality engagement in this area. If you would like to tell us about your work, please Contact Us.