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Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability

3. PPI in the Research Cycle 

NEXT Values and Standards in PPI activities

Here are some examples of PPI at different stages of the research cycle.

Research Cycle Image. Identifying and Priotitising stage. • Service users, carers and members of the public can help inform research priorities Design Stage. • Help clarify the research question • Co-design project • Ensure the methodology is suitable • Assist with a recruitment strategy priorities. Undertaking/Management stage. • Assist in collecting data & carrying out interviews • Representation on project steering & governance groups Analysing and Interpreting stage. • Work with the research team to interpret data & develop themes priorities Dissemination stage. • Share knowledge on where best to share the findings • Present the findings • Help write up dissemination materials Implementation stage. • Build relationships with knowledge users & policy makers through local user groups

Source: HRB website 

When viewing a research cycle like this, a question often occurs for researchers who would struggle certain aspects of the activities suggested. For example, a lab-based researcher might not easily be able to incorporate PPI contributors into the Analysis stage or that the methodology is appropriate at Design stage. These issues are mirrored by PPI contributors who do not want 'tokenistic' involvement, where they have no say and their perspective is irrelevant to the discussion.

Always consider, honestly, where a PPI contributor can have a meaningful input or where useful conversations can be had that will benefit the research cycle. Where that is not the case, or is not building towards that, you must consider whether you are wasting your own and other people's time.