Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and public involvement in research

EDI in research aims to ensure that a diverse range of people take part in and shape research.

Our research guidance on essex.gov.uk outlines the council's approach to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and public involvement in research.

The guidance:

• ensures that all research has good research integrity
• outlines how researchers should work with and include members of the public when shaping and conducting research
• includes the expectations and behaviours that we have of staff conducting research for Essex County Council (ECC) or on behalf of ECC

Participant and public involvement in research

People who take part in research are often called participants or respondents. They are who you ask research questions to, using methods like surveys, focus groups and interviews.

Public involvement is different from taking part in research. Public involvement in research is where the public and service users work alongside researchers, acting as a critical friend to shape the research, how it is managed and run.

They might be called advisors or collaborators, and they support at different stages of research. These stages might include during the question or research design, interpretation of findings, and or making recommendations.

Why it's important

The research guidance follows best practice and supports staff conducting research to achieve high research standards. This enables good decision-making, trust and confidence in the research findings. 

EDI and public involvement in research are important contributors to our equality and diversity objectives and the progress that we make on them.

Good EDI and public involvement research practice is important in reducing inequality. By including more diverse views in research we reduce inequality by: 

• ensuring our research has better relevance and reaches more people 
• listening and responding to the experiences of groups seldom involved in research 
• improving the accuracy of our research findings and recommendations 
• ensuring our interventions, resources, and services work for everyone who needs them 
• ensuring the actions that we take as a council are based on high-quality research evidence

Who it applies to

It applies to research and evaluation activities and:

• the whole organisation, including hosted bodies such as the Greater Essex Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), when designing or conducting research 
• staff who are conducting research with the public and service users, but who may not be in a professional research role or may not consider themselves researchers
• professional researchers

It is the standard by which we are guided in ECC when conducting research either alone or in formal or informal collaboration with other organisations, including academic partners. 

When you should do it

You should read the guidance at the start of your research project, for example when prioritising research projects or planning what is required, so that you are clear on the expectations and behaviours we have of staff.

You will then be able to build this into your own work throughout the planning, design, delivery and reporting of research.

Support for researchers

The Research and Citizen Insight team provides support and guidance. You can contact the team by emailing research@essex.gov.uk. 

Our research governance and ethics review processes support researchers to achieve high research standards.

Our rewards and recognition guidance for research and co-production provides a practice guide for the use of rewards and recognition in research and co-production.

Our policies and plans page details how we're achieving the highest standards, including our strategies for equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-racist practice.

External resources

• UK Standards for Public Involvement in research includes examples of good practice in public involvement, as well as 6 standards
• Inclusive research e-learning module (University of Manchester - 2021)
• Public involvement toolkit (Health and Care Research Wales) includes guidance on involving members of the public in your research
• Equality, diversity and inclusion toolkit (NIHR RSS)