FAQs

What is involvement in research?

Involving People helps people to get involved in health and social care research. Research can be described as finding out things and providing new knowledge. Health and social care research aims to find out more about health issues, including causes of ill health and effects of treatments, and social care issues, including support needs for older people.

By involvement in research we mean active involvement, where people are not just the subjects of research but are working with researchers to plan, manage, carry out and present research. This type of involvement can be described as research done with members of the public, not to or about them.

Ways of getting involved?

People can get involved in research in a variety of different ways and in a variety of different settings, including:

• identifying topics of research
• helping researchers design their research projects
• helping to write information sheets for research participants
• helping to manage the research project, by joining a steering or advisory group
• helping to carry out the research, including helping with interviews
• helping to publicise and disseminate the research findings

The type of involvement in research can range from asking people what they think to enabling people to lead the way.

Benefits of involvement?

Involvement in research can have benefits to both the research itself and those getting involved in the research.

Benefits to research
The benefits of involving people in research include making sure that the research is asking the right questions in a way that benefits people, and helping to make sure that the people being researched are approached in the right way.

Benefits to those getting involved
Benefits to the individuals getting involved include enabling them to have a say in research that might affect them, their family or friends and teaching them more about research and the subjects being researched.

Involvement in research can also be a great way to meet people.

Payment for involvement?

You should always receive reimbursement for any reasonable expenses, including travel.

You may be offered an amount for your time, but this will depend on the project and what your involvement is.

To help make it as easy as possible to get involved in research, Involving People provides Training and Support.