Service User Involvement in Research: Panacea or Pretence Dr Hugh McLaughlin University of Salford
Levels of Involvement Tokenism Consultation Collaboration Service User Controlled
Benefits for the young co-researcher Self esteem, confidence Employability Citizenship Valuing of work Remuneration Ownership
Benefits for the adult researcher Better understanding Access to young people’s views and priorities Energy, contagious Synergy Fun
Benefits to the Research Identify questions overlooked, prioritizing Access to language and understanding User-friendliness of tools Range and quality of data enhanced YP raise issues with other young people they would not raise with an adult Presentation of results
Costs to the co-researchers Opportunity time Training Exploitation Stereotypes
Costs to the adult researcher Time Recruitment Resources Writing up Energy Opportunity costs Ethics committees
Costs to the research Time Training Support Legal demands Remuneration Expect the unexpected
Research Tasks Research application Research design Interviewing/Questio nnaires Analysis Writing up Publicising
Contradictions Service User to researcher Methodologies – knowledge construction ‘Nothing about us without us’ Othering Non-service users Outcomes and processes
Useful Publications Fraser, S. Lewis, V. Ding, S. Kellet, M. and Robinson, C. (eds.) (2004) Doing Research with Children and Young People, London: Sage Kirby, P. (2004) A Guide to Involving Young People as Researchers, Eastleigh: Involve, Lewis, A. and Lindsay, G. (eds.) (2000) Researching Children’s Perspectives, Buckingham: Open University Press McLaughlin, H (2006) Understanding Social Work Research, London: Sage, McLaughlin, H. (forthcoming) Involving Young Service Users as Co- researchers: Possibilities, benefits and costs, British Journal of Social Work. McLaughlin, H. (2005) Young service users as co-researchers: methodological problems and possibilities; Qualitative Social Work, 4: (2) McLaughlin, H. et al. (2004) Willing Participants, Community Care, rd March, p36-7 Smith, R. Monaghan, M. and Broad, B. (2002) ‘Involving Young People as Co-Researchers’, Qualitative Social Work, 1 (2)