Collaborative inquiry

University researchers: Sophie Phillips and Dan Goodley 
Project Partners: Sheffield Voices

This Priority Area of WAARC is split into two areas of work.

Building and promoting Inclusive Research

Problem: A need to promote more inclusive disability research activity at TUOS.

Strategic Plan: The University of Sheffield (TUOS) Participatory Research Network (PRN) has led and managed an Open Call to all researchers in the university that supports and funds 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. 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. To find out more about how the Open Call was co-produced with one of our non-academic partners - Sheffield Voices - check out this Conversation with Sophie Phillips.

Progress on deliverables:  Four Collaborative Projects have been funded 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 - on  development needs of the research teams of the Collaborative Projects. 

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. 

Progress on deliverables:  A documentary analysis of the Concordat has pulled together key researchers for disabled researchers. The WAARC team are collaborating with the Critical Disability Studies community on a series of creative workshops that crip the concordat.

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.