Authors: Thompson, Jill¹; Barber, Rosemary²; Ward, Paul R.³; Boote, Jonathan D.⁴; Cooper, Cindy L.⁵; Armitage, Christopher J.⁶; Jones, Georgina⁷

Source: Health Expectations, Volume 12, Number 2, June 2009 , pp. 209-220(12)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Objective 

To investigate health researchers' attitudes to involving the public in research. Background 

Public involvement in research is encouraged by the Department of Health in the UK. Despite this, the number of health researchers actively involving the public in research appears to be limited. There is little research specifically addressing the attitudes of health researchers towards involving the public: how they interpret the policy, what motivates and de-motivates them and what their experiences have been to date. Design 

A qualitative research design, using semi-structured telephone interviews. Setting and participants 

Fifteen purposively sampled UK-based University health researchers were the participants. Interviews were conducted over the telephone. Findings 

The participants suggested varying constructions of public involvement in research. Arguments based on moral and political principles and consequentialist arguments for involving the public in research were offered and most participants highlighted the potential benefits of involving the public. However, feelings of apprehension expressed by some participants imply that a number of researchers may still be uncomfortable with involving the public, as it presents a different way of working.

Keywords: public involvement in research; qualitative research; researchers' attitudes

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1369-7625.2009.00532.x

Affiliations: 1: Post Graduate Research Student, School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield 2: Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Sheffield Care Trust; Honorary Senior Research Fellow, School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK 3: Associate Professor, Department of Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia 4: Research Manager (Governance), Sheffield Health and Social Research Consortium; Honorary Research Fellow, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield 5: Director of ScHARR's Clinical Trials Support Unit, School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield 6: Reader in Psychology, Centre for Research in Social Attitudes, Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield 7: Senior Lecturer in Social Science, School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

Publication date: 2009-06-01

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