1. I am a member of the public who would like to get involved in research. How do I do this?
There are a number of different ways in which people who use services become involved in research.
Researchers approach community groups and charities who support and campaign on behalf of particular groups of people. If you have a particular research area you are interested e.g. cancer or mental health, contact relevant national and local organisations to ask them about becoming actively involved in research. Your local library, Council for Voluntary Service or a website such as www.patient.org.uk will help you to identify relevant groups and organisations.
Researchers advertise for people who use services to become involved in their project. Look out for advertisements in newspapers, GP practices, libraries or community centres.
You could approach researchers. Your local NHS Trust or Primary Care Trust might have a research programme in which you could get involved. Their contact details will be in your local telephone directory, ask if they have a Research and Development (R&D) Manager or lead person for R&D.
Some GP's and health visitors run research projects of their own, often with the support of a local primary care research organisation. It may be worth making enquiries at your local GP surgery.
Further information on getting involved in research, including
questions which may be relevant to ask before getting involved, can be found
in our new Public Information Pack (PIP) which can be downloaded from this website. If you would like to be sent a copy of the publication in the post, please contact the Support Unit. The opportunities for involvement section of our noticeboard and
our links page will have contact details of organisations that actively involve
members of the public in their research.
