Collaborative inquiry

Collaboration 
Leads: Sophie Phillips and Dan Goodley 
3.1. Inclusive Research
Problem: A need to promote more inclusive disability research activity at TUOS.
Strategic Plan: The TUOS Participatory Research Network (PRN) will lead and manage an Open Call to all researchers in TUOS seeking to support research projects that put into practice inclusive methods with disabled people and their representative organisations, including a ring-fencing of part of this funding for PGR applicants.
Workplan: We anticipate supporting up to a maximum of six research projects running for six months in our Open Call that seek to put into practice inclusive methods with disabled people and their representative organisations, including a ring-fencing of part of this funding for PGR applicants. Each project will involve the participation of a range of stakeholders who will manage their own ethical applications using the TUOS online ethics application systems supported by their own department’s research hubs.

The focus of this areas is to promote collaboration between university researchers and Disabled People's Organisations to participate in research that challenges normative research processes and outcomes.  Four Collaborative Projects have been funded through WAARC that seek to address the research priorities of disabled people and their representative organisations. We are working closely with one of our non-academic partners - Sheffield Voices - to support the development needs of the research teams of the Collaborative Projects. You can find out more about the progress of these projects here.

The Participatory Research Network (PRN) is a university-wide initiative that seeks to promote and embed participatory research in the practices of researcher across the University of Sheffield. A number of activities of the PRN have taken place during the time of WAARC that have helped build a participatory university ethos.

3.2. Cripping the Concordat
Problem: A disconnect between current commitments around researcher development and the barriers faced by disabled researchers.
Strategic plan: Explore how the Concordat To Support the Career Development of Researchers can more effectively support the needs and research aspirations of disabled researchers. 
Workplan: In-depth thematic analysis of the Concordat supplemented by findings arising for Priority Areas 1 and 2. Secondary data related to Concordat and TUOS documents presented on the university website.

The outputs will include a set of resources and recommendations arising from the open call projects and further guidance on enhancing the Concordat. The evaluation will include an assessment of the outcomes of the open call projects and a framework for assessing the impact of enhanced guidance aligned with the Concordat on disabled researchers. 

Deliverables

• Funding of a number of research projects delivered in collaboration with disabled people’s organisations.
• Cripping the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers.