Participatory Research Oxford: Principles, Practice, and Impact

Join us for a two-day workshop on Participatory Research: Principles, Practice, and Impact, designed for early-career researchers interested in collaborative, community-engaged approaches to research. Through interactive sessions, real-world case studies, and practical guidance, participants will explore the foundations of participatory research, how to build trust with communities, co-design research agendas, and implement inclusive methods of data collection and analysis. The workshop will also cover strategies for effective dissemination, policy engagement, and ensuring long-term impact. Whether you're new to participatory approaches or looking to strengthen your practice, this workshop offers valuable tools to make your research more meaningful and impactful.

This is a two-day, in-person only course and participants should ensure that they can attend both days in Oxford. The workshop is open to ALL divisions and colleagues in GLAM – both researchers and for professional staff supporting research and engagement. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Schedule

Day 1

Time Activity Outline
10am-11am Introductions & Logic Model  
11am-12.30pm Introduction to Participatory Research

Define and demystify definitions with participatory research

  • Central elements of meaningful participation
  • Exploration of historical development of PR, specifically in the context of ECR projects
  • Examples of successful projects and common mistakes
Lunch    
1pm-2.30pm Considerations for Study Design, Planning and Collaboration

How to build trust and collaborative relationships between researchers and communities

  • Define ‘community’
  • Engagement methodologies – advisory boards, Responsible Knowledge exchange, co-design research agendas
  • Strategies for effective engagement, inc. identification of research questions and meeting real-world issues, compensating community members, navigating practical consideration
2.30pm-3pm   Responsible Knowledge Exchange, Engagement and Impact (RKEEI)

 

Day 2

Time Activity Outline
10am-12.30pm Recap
Conducting Participatory Research

Key aspects of conducting participatory research:

  • Data collection methods
  • Data analysis
  • Ethical considerations
  • Adaptation of project design to incorporate PR & co-design methodologies
Lunch    
12.30pm-2.30pm Dissemination, KE & Action Planning in PR

Strategies for sharing key research findings to non-academic audiences reflecting the priorities of research partners:

  • Identification of stakeholders who might use the research
  • Effective & responsible KE with stakeholders
  • Best practice
  • Designing impact pathways
Break    
3pm-4pm

Next Steps:

Participatory Research on paper

Signposting to impact and impact evidencing

Writing grant proposals and involving communities in the process

Impact definitions and how to collect evidence of impact:

  • UKRI and other definitions
  • Involving partners and stakeholders in evidence collection
  • Evidence collection and evaluation

 

Join the waiting list

 

Sessions will be delivered by Dr Ben Scher, formerly of the Department of Social Policy and Intervention (Social Sciences Division), Dr Juliet Scott-Barrett, Dr Sam Harper and Aileen Marshall-Brown from the Social Sciences Division's Research, Impact & Engagement (RIE) Team. Participatory Research Oxford is a University-wide initiative designed to strengthen the ecosystem for participatory research within, across and beyond the university. Please see our website to find out more.