Engaged Research - How to do research with local communities ?

Engaged Research - How to do research with local communities ?

🎙 Université Bretagne Sud 👥 46K 📅 April 2, 2026 ⏱ 68 min 👁 41 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-08-15
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

engaged researchcommunity-based participatory researchinclusive designcitizen sciencestakeholder collaboration

Summary

This webinar, organized by the EMERGE alliance, introduces the concept of engaged research, which involves collaboration between researchers and community stakeholders throughout the research process. Professor Maura Adshead provides an overview of engaged research methods, highlighting the diversity of approaches and the importance of designing research for impact. Dr. Bastien Seantier presents a project on making water sports accessible for people with disabilities, involving collaboration with end-users, local authorities, and companies to develop adaptive equipment and technologies. Dr. Michelle O’Donoghue discusses the ARISE project, which aims to create an inclusive outdoor activity space in Limerick, co-designed with autistic individuals and other community members. Dr. Pierre Sauleau shares a marine biology project that engages local divers in data collection, demonstrating the value of citizen science. The webinar emphasizes the benefits of engaged research, including increased relevance, impact, and the ability to address complex societal challenges.

144 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The webinar provides valuable insights into the principles and practical applications of engaged research. The speakers effectively argue for the importance of involving communities in research, demonstrating through case studies how this approach leads to more relevant and impactful outcomes. The argumentation is solid, grounded in real-world examples and the speakers’ extensive experience. However, the presentations are largely descriptive rather than analytical, with limited critical evaluation of challenges or limitations. The value lies in the practical guidance and inspiration for researchers considering engaged approaches, but the depth of theoretical or methodological discussion is moderate.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The webinar demonstrates scientific rigor through the expertise of the speakers and the structured presentation of case studies. However, the sources cited are primarily internal to the project or general references to engaged research frameworks, with no external peer-reviewed literature explicitly mentioned. The title accurately reflects the content, and the webinar fulfills its promise of providing an introduction to engaged research with local communities. The lack of formal citations and the reliance on anecdotal evidence from specific projects limit the scientific robustness, but the content is consistent with established practices in the field.

202 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on engaged research with local communities, illustrated through case studies.

Quality & Reliability

7/10

The webinar features four expert speakers from the EMERGE alliance, presenting established engaged research methodologies and concrete case studies. The content is well-structured and grounded in practical experience, though it lacks formal citations or peer-reviewed references. The information is reliable for an introductory overview, but the lack of detailed methodological rigor and external validation limits its scientific depth.

Key Moments

Cited Sources

  • EU Catalog of Engaged Research Methods — Referenced by Maura Adshead as a resource for exploring various engaged research methods.

Concurring Sources

  • Engaged Research: A Guide for Researchers — The University of Limerick provides resources on engaged research, aligning with the webinar's themes.

Contribution & Novelties

The webinar provides a comprehensive introduction to engaged research, showcasing diverse case studies that illustrate the practical application of collaborative methodologies. It emphasizes the importance of building trust and long-term relationships with community partners, and highlights the potential for engaged research to address societal challenges. The inclusion of projects from different disciplines (material science, speech therapy, marine biology) demonstrates the versatility of engaged approaches.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Community-Based Participatory Research — Provides an overview of participatory action research, a key engaged research method.
  • Citizen Science — Explains the concept of public participation in scientific research, relevant to Pierre Sauleau’s project.
  • Inclusive Design — Discusses design principles that consider the needs of diverse users, relevant to the ARISE project.

120 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in quantity and quality of information, reflecting the webinar's comprehensive coverage and expert insights. The technical level is moderate, suitable for a general academic audience. Overall reliability is good, though the lack of formal citations slightly reduces the score.

Reliability 7/10

💬 No comments were provided for analysis.