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    Get involved in research


    Why is public involvement important?

    Members of the public bring perspectives and skills that are not always the same as those of researchers and health and social care professionals. Their involvement helps to ensure that the entire research process is focused on what is important to people and is therefore more relevant and acceptable to the users of services.

    Public involvement also enables researchers to communicate better with diverse audiences and creates an environment in which more people are going to want to take part in research.

    If research reflects the needs and views of the public, it is more likely to produce results what can be used to improve health and social care services.

    “The involvement of service users in the analysis provided a fresh perspective which was quite different to research undertaken with professional researchers taking the lead.”
    (Researcher)

    “Medical knowledge isn’t the only important knowledge.  It’s important to know what it’s like to actually have a condition or to use services and how that impacts on someone’s life, medical knowledge doesn’t tell you that.”
    (Service user)

    INVOLVE
    INVOLVE is a national advisory group which supports greater public involvement in NHS, public health and social care research. INVOLVE is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). www.invo.org.uk

    INVOLVE works with others towards creating the research community of the future which will be broader, more inclusive and more representative of the population as a whole.

    They have produced a Public Information Pack which can be downloaded here:

    1. So what is it all about?
    2. Getting started
    3. Finding out more 
    4.     Jargon buster People in Research 

    People in Research

    The People in Research website has a database of research activities which members of the public can get involved in, including the facility to sign up for e-mail alerts.     www.peopleinresearch.org