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A policy framework for inclusive research design
Dr Lilian Hunt, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Science and Health Lead at Wellcome, tells us about a framework to improve inclusive research policies and its potential impact on future research design.
As global research funders, it’s our responsibility to ensure the research we fund is inclusive in both design and practice so we can drive equitable health solutions. This means researchers must consider how diversity – biological, social and societal – is integrated into their research design, impact and interpretation. And we must support researchers by embedding policies that uphold this.
With this in mind, I worked alongside Professor Londa Schiebinger and Dr Mathias Nielson to identify and review how national research funding agencies integrate sex, gender and diversity analysis as core criteria for the research they fund. We then developed a five-part framework for funders to design and implement these policies. Here’s why.
The policy framework
National research agencies are responsible for promoting excellent research for the benefit of everyone in our society. Equitable research design can improve research methodology and ensure research is responsive and applicable to the public. To do this, we need to look at embedding diversity across the entire research cycle – from identifying a problem statement, designing the research, collecting and analysing data and sharing findings – and how funders can support researchers throughout this process.
Sex and gender policies of national funding agencies were at the forefront of the research, as many policies exist in these areas and have been in place for several years in some countries, so we could help funders to understand what best practice and progress look like.
The research consisted of a document review, a pilot study, guidance from an expert advisory group and a global survey. From this, we developed a scoring framework to assess funders in 22 countries across six continents. We then proposed a five-part framework for inclusive research policy design:
- Definition of terms
- Proposal guidelines for applicants
- Instructions for evaluators
- Training for applicants, evaluators and staff
- Evaluation of policy implementation
Overall, we found some national funding agencies had good practices and policies in specific parts of the framework, but few were great across all five areas – with the evaluation of policy implementation being the weakest area.
Read more here.
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