Kerry Dowding, Research and Evaluation Officer for Fulfilling Lives South East, has had an article published by the journal Social Research Practice. Her article looks at co-production in research, and how the Fulfilling Lives project applies this approach in practice with people who have experienced multiple and complex needs. The aim is to encourage social researchers across the UK to work more co-productively.
Kerry has drawn learning from her work supporting the Fulfilling Lives Peer Research Network, a dynamic group of volunteers and staff with lived experience of multiple and complex needs, who conduct research within the project. They are trained to develop skills in interview techniques, group data analysis and survey design, to allow them to carry out various types of research and evaluations.
Kerry writes:
Researching co-productively can take a little longer than more standard research approaches, and certainly takes reflection and practice to get right with any community. However, I believe working towards co-production can result in projects which all parties consider authentic and inclusive, and which create real impact for the communities focused on.
The article features in the spring 2020 edition of the journal Social Research Practice. You can read the article here.
