Creation of the Inclusive Research Hub

Despite increasing calls for action, there is not yet widespread understanding of the need or means to make research more inclusive. The Inclusive Research Hub was initially developed by the Inclusive Research Collective (IRC) in collaboration with the People Development Team at the University of Bristol to help address this gap. It began as a way of consolidating much of the learning that the IRC had acquired through developing training workshops on the subject of inclusive research. We wanted to be part of the change needed within research by sharing these ideas and resources, whilst also inviting others to contribute and help develop a platform of learning that could benefit the whole research sector.

We identified that our particular expertise, centred around the life and physical sciences, set limitations on what we could include and so have sought input from a range of people from different research disciplines and roles within research (see our contributors page). Over several stages the content has been refined and built upon to create the version you are currently reading. This process is not (ever) finished! The Hub is a living resource, one that is imperfect and incomplete, but can be the foundation for improving research practice. As such, we welcome critical feedback and contributions of all kinds. Click the link in the box below to get in touch.

Contribution Submission

The Hub is a living resource. As such, we welcome critical feedback and contributions of all kinds. In particular, we invite feedback on:

Concepts or practices we may have missed or under-explained

Our use of language, and how it could be clarified or made more inclusive

The organisation and presentation of information and resources

We would especially appreciate suggestions for subject-specific case-studies that are relevant to the various sections of the Hub.

Introduction

Creation of the Inclusive Research Hub

Contribute to the Hub

Contribution Submission

Contextualising Research

Research does not happen in isolation. It is important to engage with social and philosophical foundations of research by considering things like the purpose of research, what makes research valid (or not), why research is the way it is, and who research is for.

Forming a Research Question

All research starts with a question, but there are an infinite number of questions we could ask… It is important to think about why we choose the questions we do, what shapes our thinking about these questions, and what constrains our approach to answering them.

Designing a Research Project

Project design is crucial to being able to answer your research question accurately. Researchers must make hundreds of decisions when they design a research project. Each of these decisions will shape how inclusive, or exclusionary, the research ultimately becomes.

Collecting Data

Data collection is a fundamental part of any research project. Although it can look very different depending on the kind of research being done, it is always important to consider how we can be inclusive during this part of the process.

Analysing and Interpreting Data

Once data is collected, we need to make meaning from that data. The analysis of data and interpretation of results involves hundreds of decisions, each of which can carry human bias.

Communicating Results

The way we communicate the outcome of our research can have huge consequences, both on wider society and the research that gets done in the future. It is important to consider how the communication choices we make can exclude people and harm our research.