Perceptions, Barriers and Facilitating Strategies of Inclusive Research: A Qualitative Study with Expert Interviews

Authors

  • Latifa Abidi Maastricht University, The Netherlands
  • Julia van Koeveringe Maastricht University, The Netherlands
  • Mareike Smolka Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands RWTH Aachen University, Germany
  • Brigitte van Lierop Frans Nijhuis Foundation, The Netherlands
  • Hans Bosma Maastricht University, The Netherlands
  • Jessica M. Alleva Maastricht University, The Netherlands
  • Nikita Poole Maastricht University, The Netherlands IVO Research Institute, The Netherlands, and Health Funds for a Smokefree Netherlands, The Netherlands
  • Gera Nagelhout , Maastricht University, The Netherlands Avans University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/cwa36g66

Keywords:

inclusive research, participation, representative research

Abstract

Scientific research should be relevant to and include those considered to be disadvantaged and underrepresented. Investigating perceptions, barriers and strategies of inclusive research experienced by researchers can help address some of the challenges to inclusive research. This study explores what inclusive research is, why inclusive research is important, which barriers researchers experience, and which strategies they propose and deploy to address these barriers. We interviewed 15 researchers from the health sciences, (bio)medical sciences, and social sciences who have experience with inclusive research and conducted qualitative content analysis. We identified four important aspects of inclusive research: involvement of researched groups, accessibility, diversity and representativeness and enabling positive change. Societal, methodological, educational and ethical arguments were provided as reasons for why inclusive research is important. Main barriers were researchers’ lack of skills, lack of time and budget, and non-inclusive research materials. This study provides strategies for conducting inclusive research throughout the research cycle, applicable to a wide range of academic fields. We conclude that there is not one correct way to conduct inclusive research. Rather, the strategies can increase inclusivity in qualitative and quantitative studies.

Author Biographies

  • Latifa Abidi, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

    LATIFA ABIDI, PhD, is an assistant professor at the Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University. Her major research interests lie in the areas of socioeconomic health inequalities, participatory research methods and inclusive research. Email: latifa.abidi@maastrichtuniversity.nl

  • Julia van Koeveringe, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

    JULIA VAN KOEVERINGE, MSc, is a PhD candidate at Maastricht University, specializing in health inequity and inequality on both local and global scales. Her research focuses on participatory methods that empower communities and promote sustainable and inclusive health solutions.

  • Mareike Smolka, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands RWTH Aachen University, Germany

    MAREIKE SMOLKA, PhD, is assistant professor in the Knowledge, Technology, & Innovation chair group at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands and research fellow at the Human Technology Center at RWTH Aachen University. She is a social science and humanities scholar with a background in Science & Technology Studies, Responsible Innovation, and more recently Transition Studies. She has experience in developing and applying inter- and transdisciplinary approaches for collaborative, engaged research.

  • Brigitte van Lierop, Frans Nijhuis Foundation, The Netherlands

    BRIGITTE VAN LIEROP, PhD, is director of the Frans Nijhuis Foundation, focussing on research and development of inclusive workplaces. She is founder of Inclusive Job Design; a methodology to design inclusive workplaces.

  • Hans Bosma, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

    HANS BOSMA, PhD, is a professor of Social Epidemiology at the Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University. Mostly using longitudinal designs and advanced methodology, his major research interest lies in helping to find intervention targets aimed at tackling socioeconomic health inequalities.

  • Jessica M. Alleva, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

    JESSICA M. ALLEVA, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience at Maastricht University. Her expertise lays in body image (i.e., how people think and feel about their body), including strategies to enhance positive body image, appearance diversity and inclusivity, and acceptance of all bodies, regardless of how they look and/or function.

  • Nikita Poole, Maastricht University, The Netherlands IVO Research Institute, The Netherlands, and Health Funds for a Smokefree Netherlands, The Netherlands

    NIKITA POOLE, MSc, is a PhD candidate at the Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University and Research Advisor at the Health Funds for a Smokefree Netherlands. Her research concerns tobacco control, including the role demographic characteristics in smoking cessation.

  • Gera Nagelhout, , Maastricht University, The Netherlands Avans University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands

    GERA NAGELHOUT, PhD, is endowed professor ‘Health and Well-being of People with a Lower Socio-economic Position’ at the department of Health Promotion at Maastricht University and lector ‘Engaged Science’ at Centre of Expertise ‘Perspective in Health’ at Avans University of Applied Sciences. Her expertise is socioeconomic differences in health, addictive behaviors, participatory and inclusive research, and citizen science for health.

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Published

2024-10-30

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 2 (2024): Journal of Underrepresented & Minority Progress

Section

Articles