Latest guides for participatory and inclusive research practices released
We’re proud to announce the release of the Participatory and Inclusive Autism Research Practice Guides, which provide researchers with:
- background information on participatory research
- guides for producing research with autistic people and other community members
- guides for producing research for autistic people and other community members.
“It is testament to the positive shift in the autism research landscape that we are able to introduce a third iteration of these important guides,” said Autism CRC Chair, Professor Robert van Barneveld.
“By understanding, recognising and valuing the lived experience of autistic people, their families and supporters, researchers can ensure they produce end-user driven research that delivers practical outcomes and resources that benefit the community.”
Participatory and inclusive research practices:
- promote partnerships between researchers and community members, ensuring end-users have a say in the research that is done about them
- produces research that is more relevant and beneficial to the community
- improve participant recruitment
- build community capacity and skills by meaningfully engaging end-users in the processes and practices of research.
Autism CRC first released inclusive research practice guides and checklists for autism research in late 2014. The current document was launched at Autism CRC’s Participant Day event on 8 April 2022 in Brisbane, Australia.
Dr Jac den Houting, author of the latest version said, “Previous guides were very focused on the practicalities of research. In this version we’ve tried to retain that practicality and give guidance on ‘how’ to conduct participatory or inclusive research. We’ve also tried to incorporate more of the ‘why’, the philosophy and beliefs that underlie participatory research, because the attitudes that we bring into participatory research are just as important as the actions that we take.”
“We believe these earlier guides have already provided a practical resource for researchers throughout our networks. Our aim now is to further enhance the uptake and quality of participatory and inclusive research practices nationally and internationally,” said Professor van Barneveld.
The Participatory and Inclusive Autism Research Practice Guides have benefited from people’s perspectives situated within the context of Autism CRC’s journey of engaging end-user organisations and inclusive research practices. Autism CRC is grateful for the input of contributors to this and previous versions of the document.
These valuable resources are available to everybody at no financial cost. We require people to provide us with some basic information about themselves, via registration, as this allows us to better understand, and report on, utilisation of this significant output.
What's in the guides?
The Participatory and Inclusive Autism Research Practice Guides contain an overview of important participatory research principles, concepts, and practices, followed by six focussed guides addressing both participatory and inclusive research.
Participatory Research Practice Guides
The Participatory Research Practice Guides provide information and advice about producing research together with autistic people and other community members. There are three Participatory Research Practice Guides:
- Consulting with autistic people in research
- Co-producing research with autistic people
- Supporting autistic people to produce community-led research
Inclusive Research Practice Guides
The Inclusive Research Practice Guides provide information and advice about conducting research that is inclusive of and accessible to autistic people and other community members. There are three Inclusive Research Practice Guides:
- Involving autistic people as research participants
- Disseminating research findings
- Evaluating research process and impact.