Practical considerations in doing research inclusively and doing it well: Lessons for inclusive researchers

This NCRM Methodological Review paper follows on from an earlier Review, Conducting qualitative research with people with communication, learning and other disabilities: Methodological challenges (Nind, 2008). That earlier review concluded that the practical, political and ethical challenges of inclusive research, together with the sensitivities of the process, were being embraced not just by the pioneers in the field but by researchers in different disciplines who would no longer be conducting research on people with learning and communication difficulties but with them. This paper builds from the conclusions of that earlier review, but is distinctive in that it is concerned only with doing research with, rather than on, people with learning disabilities and others. The focus is on the practicalities of such research - often known as participatory research – that is research that ‘involves those being researched in the decision-making and conduct of the research, including project planning, research design, data collection and analysis, and/or the distribution and application of research findings’ (Bourke, 2009, p.458). We also look at research done by people with learning disabilities, often labelled emancipatory research. The focus is on researching in ways that are respectful and inclusive of the community being researched, on problems they feel ownership of, in ways that support them and that involve collaboration and openness.