The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) and public involvement in research: can the tensions be reconciled?
2006 Conference
The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) determines funding allocation for university research – a major location of research activity. There are concerns that the RAE’s orientation is not consistent with increasing interest in public, patient and service user involvement in research/evaluation. Different RAE panels and subpanels approach this issue in different ways. Clearly it is important for such an exercise to be consistent with wider policy if research is to reflect and address current thinking in research, research priorities and research funding more generally.
This paper will explore this issue and examine the implications of the RAE process for user involvement in research and emancipatory research approaches. Are barriers likely to operate? How can these be challenged helpfully? Can we learn from the approach of different (sub) panels? What role can researchers, service users/patients and public play in this? How can people working in the university research sector particularly, ensure that a commitment to public involvement does not disadvantage their work, but rather may be valued?
Authors
Beresford ~ Peter OBE
Peter Beresford, Professor of Social Policy and Director of Centre for Citizen Participation, Brunel University. Peter Beresford is a long term user of mental health services, academic and Chair of Shaping Our Lives, the national user controlled organisation and network. He has a longstanding interest in issues of participation and empowerment as well as in developing and undertaking user controlled and survivor research.
View all articles by this authorPostle ~ Karen
Lecturer in Social Work, University of East Anglia. Karen Postle is a qualified social worker who has conducted research into care management, nurse-led care and citizen participation. She has a responsibility for user involvement in social work education and research.
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