A collection of resources to support public involvement in research
The implementation and involvement team at NIHR ARC South London have brought together a unique collection of resources designed to support involvement in research. These include guidance documents, books, podcasts, training, websites, toolkits and events.
The resources cover essential aspects of involvement including: payment, co-production in research, participatory research, involving Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, involving young people, inclusive language, evaluating research, research ethics and implementation.
The resources are grouped by theme. We have indicated what the resource is, who it is designed for and have given a brief summary of what it contains.
Download the collection
An introduction to carrying out involvement
In addition, especially if you are new to research or involvement or looking for key information, we have brought together some free resources below. These resources are suitable for public contributors, researchers or anyone wanting to carry out research.
About health and care research
- What is health and care research? a free online course run by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Patient, public and service user involvement in research
- Briefing notes for researchers on public involvement in NHS, health and social care research by the NIHR
- UK Standards of public involvement Better public involvement for better health and social care research
- 4Pi A framework for involvement Aims to help create meaningful involvement with service users and carers
- Videos introducing patient and public involvement in research by Healthtalk.org
Language
- NIHR Glossary The NIHR has produced a list of words that are commonly used in health and care research and explanations of what each word means
- NHS Jargon buster ‘Think Local Act Personal (TLAP)’ has a useful care and support jargon buster that includes terms related to health and social care
- NHS Acronym buster The NHS Confederation has produced an acronym buster which contains over a thousand commonly used healthcare abbreviations
- The qualitative open mic podcast A series of podcasts around a number of topics, including: what is qualitative research, evidence-based co-design and co-production with young people
Peer and participatory research
- Toolkit from the Centre for Society and Mental Health, for patients, service users, carers and members of the public who wish to conduct, or better understand, research
- Imperial College London - Peer Research Training Resource This resource aims to support and provide a starting point for academics and public involvement practitioners who want to train people with lived experience to become co-researchers in qualitative/interview-based research studies
- Young Foundation - Peer Research Report looking at the use of peer research in the UK. It aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the methodology and advocate for its value as a legitimate and insightful research approach, with the potential to empower peer researchers
- Research methods: a practical guide to peer and community research A ten-week course which can help you identify how to conduct your research
- Co-producing health, care and research - conversations on a Participatory Action Research approach An online workshop recording by Dr Josephine Ocloo and Dr Clare Coultas, King's College London, NIHR ARC South London
Community research
- Community research toolkit A toolkit providing a brief introduction to the subject of how to do research in communities (including links to other sources of information that you might find helpful)
- Involving diverse communities in research, a co-produced report by our maternity and perinatal mental health theme
Involving children and young people
- Young researchers guidance This guidance and toolkit by Barnados, aims to provide a inspiration and inclusive, accessible activities that researchers, project workers and others can use and adopt to support the children and young people to undertake a research project
Involving disabled people in research
- A co-produced short animated film with people with learning disabilities that explains why it is important to include people with learning disabilities in research
- Involving disabled people in social research, guidance by the Office for Disability Issues
Involving people online
- Involving people when you can’t involve them face-to-face: Sharing experience A document which details a number of experiences around involving people virtually, including tips and ideas
- Online engagement: A guide to creating and running virtual meetings and events A guide which focuses on designing and delivering online meetings and events
- How do I hold a PPI meeting using virtual tools? A series of tips and tricks, as well as links to guides on how to hold virtual involvement and engagement meetings
- Carry on co-producing: handy hints and tips to help you out A blog containing tips and ways to co-produce virtually
Further information
The resources listed above are only a brief selection of some recommended resources to give an introduction to involvement in research. If you have suggestions on resources that we should include, or would prefer to receive the resources in a format other than PDF, please email Savi Hensman, involvement coordinator at: savitri.hensman@kcl.ac.uk