Working with lived and living experience researchers: A practical framework

This blog provides guidance and examples on co-evaluating with lived and living experience (LLE) researchers.

Authors and their affiliation

Jade Maloney (ARTD), Sharon-Marra Brown (ARTD), Alexandra Lorigan (ARTD) and Rosie Dale (Peer Researcher).

Key features of working with lived experience researchers

The resource is based on a conference session drawing on experiences and insights from evaluators and LLE researchers ( ARTD Consultants’ Jade Maloney, Sharon Marra-Brown, Alexandra Lorigan and Holly Kovak and LLE researchers, Kirsty Rosie and Rosie Dale).

It provides a framework for thinking about various issues including:

• Recruitment – the process of recruitment, defining roles and expectations, and considering intersectionality
• Induction and onboarding – a welcome pack, induction meeting and accommodating researcher preferences
• Ways of working – developing options for roles and responsibilities, collaboration models and managing power dynamics
• Project phases – ways that LLE researchers can be involved during planning of an evaluation, data collection, analysis and reporting, and project closure

It also provides reflections from an LLE researcher on what processes and structures were important in making this work well.

How have you used or intend on using this resource?

It is based on reflection on actual evaluation practice from different perspectives and does not shy away from discussing challenges such as power dynamics.

Why would you recommend it to other people?

For those who have never considered involving LLE researchers in an evaluation, it might create some new perspectives about who might be involved in an evaluation.

For those who are considering doing this, it is a practical resource which offers concrete suggestions about what to do and how.