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Experts by Experience can contribute their time and expert knowledge in a variety of ways.

Their insights are sought when developing study questions or materials, when interpreting findings or when writing them up for dissemination or presentation to different audiences.

Often studies will run "Steering Groups" or "Project Monitoring Groups" which typically meet quarterly but may also get in contact for additional input outside of scheduled meetings. You will be told what the specific expectations are for each study prior to getting involved. 

A project typically sets up a Steering Group with members representing the academic teams and relevant stakeholders, i.e. those with relevant connection to the study topic who have an interest in the project achieving its goals and outcomes.

For example, if the topic concerns a particular patient group, relevant clinicians, family members, or managers of care facilities may be invited. Similarly, if the project is investigating school education, parents, headteachers, or representatives of the Education Authority may be invited.

The Steering Group provides project oversight, including monitoring research progress, the achievement of milestones, and budgetary management. Typically Steering Groups meet quarterly but other ad-hoc meetings or tasks may be included. A ‘role descriptor’ will be provided on a study by study basis and you will be given the opportunity to speak with the research team prior to joining a Steering Group.

You could get involved as a participant in a research study. These studies are active studies looking for people who can contribute their time and data. 

Our studies vary widely. Some examples are:

• Completion of an online survey that may take 20-30 minutes of your time, for example, a questionnaire about the experiences of caring for others.

• A study with multiple timepoints (online or in-person), for example, a study investigating how children learn over time. 

• A computer task (completed online or in-person), for example, a study investigating memory performance under different conditions.

• A visit to a lab for physical tests or response monitoring, for example, a study that investigates physical changes during exercise. 

• A focus group (online or in-person), for example, a study that wants to understand the experiences of people living with dementia. 

All our research undergoes rigorous ethics and governance review before participant recruitment to ensure high-quality data collection and storage, participant safety, and confidentiality.

If you represent a particular organisation or body, it may be that one of our academic teams could come and talk about their study plans or to present their findings.

It is important that we disseminate to our potential end-users or beneficiaries of research.

For example, if we plan to carry out a study of coping behaviours at the time of illness, we may like to talk to patient groups; or if we find that teacher-focussed motivational interventions are effective in reducing disruptive classroom behaviour, we may like to present to education authorities or schools.