Working it out together: towards accessibility and inclusivity in research design

Topic

This workshop will offer an insight into the process of adapting an existing participatory research method - Participatory Theme Elicitation (Best et al. 2022) for use with individuals who have learning/ intellectual disabilities as part of a co-created research project.

Learning Outcomes 

Participants will have the opportunity to:
Consider ways of adapting research methods to meet the needs of researchers with learning/intellectual disabilities;
Engage with a participatory research method which has been adapted to work with researchers with learning/ intellectual disabilities;
Consider the impact of roles and power dynamics in collaborative research;
Examine the relationship between accessibility and methodological rigor in relation to counselling/psychotherapy research.

Summary of planned content relating to learning outcomes

Introduction and Scene Setting
Contextualisation of the research, situating it within the broader framework of ongoing initiatives within Tayside Centre for Counselling and as part of a PhD project.

Overview of the work (Learning Outcome 1) (Learning outcome 3)

Outline of the process of choosing a research method to meet the needs of our project as well as why and how this was adapted to meet the needs of all our researchers.
Reflections on the collaborative processes of planning and carrying out the study and writing up the findings.

Experiential element (Learning outcome 2)

Participants will have the opportunity to engage with our adapted training resources and take part in a process of open card sorting aligned to the method.

Discussion (Learning outcome 3) (Learning outcome 4)

Discussion prompts designed to examine the benefits and challenges of working in this way, and particularly in relation to power dynamics in collaborative research and the relationship between accessibility and methodological rigor.

Audience

This workshop will be of interest to anyone who wants to work collaboratively with participants and is considering ways of adapting their research methodology to meet the needs of those who have lived experiences related to their area of study.

Considerations given to issues of EDI

Workshop will begin with an opportunity for people to share what might help them feel comfortable in the space;
Materials will be available in easy-to-read formats;
A range of experiences (audio/ visual/ practical) will be offered and participants will have the opportunity to move in the space.