3.5 Involving people: Methods for involving your stakeholders

On the following pages, we outline some methods of finding out what people need, and of involving them: focus groups; workshops; qualitative interviews and surveys.

Remember that it is not just how you collect stakeholders' feedback but what you do with it that is important. People will want to know how their views are being used.

In deciding about the appropriate method, and in developing your approach, it is important to consider the following issues:

Language

• In any type of engagement or research method that involves face-to-face or telephone interaction, how are you going to address any language needs?
• In paper-based work, is it appropriate to offer documents in different languages and, if so, how will you ensure respondents are able to receive them in the language they want?

Potential for bias

• Where is there potential for researcher bias in the research method?
• How will you work to minimise it?

Ethical considerations

Some methods of capturing users' views will require ethical clearance. You can find out more about this in the process section and from your Caldicott Guardian or your research lead.

Environment

• Where are you most likely to be able to get in touch with the target group you wish to involve?
• Some people will be more comfortable in a particular setting, such as their own home or at a centre they use regularly. How will you make sure this happens?

Data protection

• Have your interviewers or other researchers been briefed about your data protection policy?
• Will the people responding to interviews or surveys know how their data will be used, by whom, and the level of confidentiality and anonymity of which they can be assured?

The particular needs of the individual

• Are there any condition- or context-specific issues that need to be taken into consideration? For example, some people may feel more comfortable being accompanied by a friend or carer or, in the case of children, the parent or guardian. People with particular health conditions may need specific physical aids or a suitable environment. How does your approach take these into account?
• How will you let people know in advance that you are aware of and prepared to accommodate individual circumstances, so that you increase the 'take up' of whatever method you intend to use?

Next page: focus groups