Inclusive research – our view

Truly impactful research starts with a commitment to hearing from everyone and inclusive research ensures we listen to the often less represented voices so that everyone can shape the solutions that we create.

Too often underrepresented communities are only consulted on issues directly linked to their identity. By looking beyond a single characteristic and instead engaging people holistically, we can discover richer perspectives that can challenge norms and lead to better outcomes for all.

Underrepresented communities are sources of innovation. When people navigate a world that isn’t designed for them, they tend to develop creative solutions, so including these communities in research doesn’t just benefit them, it strengthens services and systems for everyone. For example, including disabled participants can lead to ideas that benefit a wider audience because designing for disability is designing for everyone, whether its user experience design, comms packaging and beyond.

Put simply, the more ways of thinking that we bring into research, the stronger and more effective our findings become – and yet traditional research practices often favour particular voices. Even participant recruitment can work against diversity – with screeners often prioritising ABC1 demographics or non-disabled respondents. This filters out other incredibly valuable perspectives before the research even begins. And when we think about research methods, research taking place in live viewing facilities can also exclude disabled people, for example.

As organisations committed to social good, inclusion must be embedded within every stage of our research process. This means rethinking recruitment, crafting alternative ways of participating in research, and challenging our own hidden biases.

Inclusive research isn’t just ethical, it is essential for creating change that genuinely works for everyone.

What is one part of your research design that could be changed to be more inclusive?