Participation Unit - Our Thinking

Jazzing Up Group Discussions pdf, 2MB

Annabelle Phillips

February 2007

There has been demand for copies of slides we presented at the LARIA event on Novel and Imaginative Research which was chaired by Debbie Lee Chan. The presentation explored simple but effective ways of approaching research and consultation that can help get the best out of participants — keeping them engaged whilst obtaining the outcomes officers want.

Searching For The Impact Of Involvement

Bobby Duffy

November 2006

Community involvement has become a key issue for central and local government and services. Of course, the notion of engaging communities in public life is not new — but it has become more of a focus since 1997, and particularly in the last couple of years. But do greater levels of engagement really lead to better services? Does greater involvement lead to improvements in overall views? A new Ipsos MORI Participation Unit study aims to measure the impact of involvement.

Engaging In Public Life: What Is The Impact Of Participation?

Jaime Rose

June 2006

Whilst engaging communities in decisions relating to public life is not new, since New Labour came to power there has been an increased drive to devolve decision-making down to local communities.

The Value Of Peers (Fair Trade Part II) pdf, 207KB

Jaime Rose and Anna Pierce

March 2006

Last year our MRS conference paper 'Fair Trade Research' explored the theory behind participative research and was received with interest across the industry. Twelve months on it’s time to stop talking and start doing … In this paper we argue that building sustainable connections with participants, using a 'Fair Trade' approach is the cornerstone of successful research, and that this will become increasingly important in the future.

New Rules Of Engagement

Bobby Duffy

October 2005

The gloomiest predictions for turnout at the general election did not, in the end, come true. But this is no cause for celebration — we still face real problems with social and political participation in the country as a whole, and things are much worse in deprived areas. It's not just voting that is lower in our poorer areas. There are fewer participating in a whole range of social and political activities — and there is little sign of the gap narrowing.

Employing Local Residents as Interviewers — the pros and cons in practice pdf, 180KB

Bobby Duffy and Rachel Williams

January 2003

The key benefits of training local people as interviewers are in raising skills levels and providing direct employment and income.

Please contact the Participation Unit Team if you would like any further details.