Glossary of Terms

AccessibilityThe degree to which a product, device, program, service, resource, or environment is available to a given user.

AdvocacyThe generation of public support for an idea, plan, or way of doing something.

AgencyThe capacity of individuals to act independently, make their own choices, and influence their own lives.

Bottom-up approachAn approach where the local community or local actors express a way of planning, organizing or developing something that considers the smaller parts or details first, in line with their own views, expectations and plans. The concept is that a large-scale solution can result from actions that take place at a smaller scale.

Citizen scienceThe non-professional involvement of volunteers in the scientific process, commonly in (but not restricted to) data collection.

Citizen engagementA broad set of practices and attitudes of involvement in social and political life with the goal of increasing the health of a democratic society.

Civic engagementA broad set of practices and attitudes of involvement in social and political life...

Co-assessmentInvolvement of people (publics) in the monitoring, governance, & evaluation and feedback of research.

Co-creationInvolvement of people (publics) directly in the development of new knowledge or innovations.

Co-designInvolvement of people (publics) in developing research agendas, roadmaps or policies.

Community-based research (CBR)A participatory approach where research projects are driven by community priorities and the community is involved.

ConsultActivities with the goal of one-way transfer of knowledge aimed at the public sharing information to the researcher.

Co-productionCollaborative partnership between researchers and the public with some level of joint decision making. Responsibility is shared between researchers and the public and there is an emphasis on reciprocity, where acknowledgement of the contributions of all people involved is recognised.

Deliberative dialogueAn approach to decision-making that allows participants to consider relevant information from multiple points of view to develop a shared understanding of a problem and to search for common ground for action.

Design thinkingA solution-based and user-centric approach to problem-solving and innovation. It is a non-linear, iterative, creative process best suited to poorly defined or poorly understood problems.

DiversityThe practice or quality of involving people from a range of different social, cultural, ethnic and marginalised backgrounds.

EmpowermentThe process of becoming stronger and more confident in order to gain greater control over what happens to you.

Engaged researchA collaborative process where researchers and stakeholders, including the public, community groups, and policymakers, co-create knowledge to address societal challenges and inform practice and policy.

EngagementBuilding relationships, raising awareness, empowering societal partners in and through research, and other activities focused on mobilising knowledge.

FacilitationHelping other people to deal with a process or reach a solution without getting directly involved in the process.

FlexibilityBeing responsive and open to new ideas, and allowing for adaptation and evolution.

Focus groupSmall group of people who are brought together to share their feelings or perceptions on a particular topic with researchers.

Grassroots initiativesCommunity-based approaches created to address localized problems.

Human-centered designProcess to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process.

InclusionProviding equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized.

Indigenous knowledgeThe understandings, skills, and philosophies developed by local communities through long histories of interaction with their environments. It is spatially and/or culturally context specific.

InvolvementA two-way knowledge exchange for mutual benefit of the researcher and public contributor. The public typically has a defined role and has some level of decision making.

Joint actionInvolvement of a number of agents performing interdependent actions in order to realise common goals.

Knowledge mobilization (KMb)The process of disseminating research findings to research organisations, business, the charitable and public sectors and/or the wider society. KMb is the term commonly used in humanities and social sciences research.

Knowledge translation & exchange (KTE)The process of disseminating research findings to research organisations, business, the charitable and public sectors and/or the wider society. KTE is the term commonly used in medicine and science.

Multi-stakeholder engagementThe active participation and collaboration of actors from different sectors, often including researchers, policymakers, industry, third sector organisations and the public.

OutreachOne-way transmission of knowledge, typically where the public receives information about research.

Participatory action research (PAR)Involves the participation and leadership of people experiencing the issue(s) being researched. Those people take action by conducting systematic research in order to generate new knowledge.

Public engagementPublic engagement in research encompasses a wide spectrum of activities. It has evolved over time with an increasing focus on a two-way process with the goal of generating mutual benefit for the research institution and the public. See: https://www.ucd.ie/research/portal/outcomesandimpacts/publicengagementandengagedresearch/

PPI (Public and Patient Involvement)The term used in Ireland for public involvement and co-production within the disciplines of health and social care research. PPI is a research practice that involves public(s) and patients in decision-making, prioritising, planning, conducting and communicating research with the overall goal of improving research relevance and impact.

ReciprocityCreating mutual benefit based on relationships of fairness and shared power.

ReflexivityThe act of examining one's own assumption, belief, and judgement systems, and thinking carefully and critically about how these influence the research process.

Responsible research and innovation (RRI)Term for integrating approaches within research to align both the research process and its outcomes with the values, needs and expectations of society. RRI encompasses public engagement, open access, gender, ethics, science education and the promotion of institutional change to accommodate these.

Rights-based approachesIndividuals and communities should know their rights and be fully supported to participate in research and practices which affect their lives. Priority should be given to people who face the biggest barriers to realising their rights.

StakeholderA person or organisation with an interest or concern in something, or who is impacted by something.

Social impactThe demonstrable contribution that research makes to society for the benefit of individuals, organisations and nations. Often relates to positive improvements in wellbeing, quality of life, and changes to behaviours or actions of a community.

Social innovationNew ideas and solutions that meet social needs and is more effective, efficient, sustainable, or just than existing solutions.

Trust-buildingProcess of developing relationships and developing trust between people so that they can work more effectively.

Universal designThe design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people regardless of their age, size, ability or disability.

User-centered designProcess in which designers focus on the users and their needs in each phase of the design process.

ValorisationThe process of creating social and economic value from knowledge by linking different areas and sectors and by transforming data, know-how and research results into sustainable products, services, solutions and knowledge-based policies that benefit society.

Young person advisory group (YPAG)A group composed of children and young people actively involved in research.