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How do researchers engage with voices that are at risk of being overlooked?
Engaging with seldom heard audiences is essential to ensuring the whole public is at the centre of public policy making.
At Verian, we ensure lived experiences of Seldom Heard audiences are placed at the centre of decision-making. Our teams across the globe work to amplify the voices of those that are at highest risk of being overlooked.
Our experts have developed 10 key principles that guide much of our work with seldom heard audiences, using case studies to demonstrate our expertise in practice. Over the next ten weeks, this email series will deliver one essential tip along with practical examples, helping you better understand how to engage with Seldom Heard audiences.
Principle 1 - Minimise barriers to participate
Choose methods that actively welcome and empower diverse participants by minimising participation barriers.
Co-designed methodology- a collaborative and participatory approach- can identify and address obstacles to involvement, ultimately ensuring that all voices are heard throughout the process.
Explore how our teams minimised barriers to participate below.
Relevant case studies:
- Amplifying the voices of care-experienced young people to inform youth policy
- Using a participatory approach to achieve more inclusive audience insights
Principle 2 - Plan for complexity
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to engaging with seldom heard audiences. Understanding the complexities of engaging with the unique sets of citizens will differ each time, and therefore planning well and budgeting in advance is crucial to making these adaptations.
Relevant case studies:
- GUIDE Longitudinal Survey Pilot
- Exploring how those who are harming others can be supported to seek help for their behaviour
Principle 3 - Recognise and reflect diversity
Assumptions made about seldom heard groups can embed biases into research design that are later reflected in fieldwork. The same depth and breadth ambitions held for commonly heard groups must be reflected in minority groups design as well.
Move away from providing insights that homogenise these voices rather than reflect their diversity by, for example, applying rigorous human rights-based approach (HRBA) to data collection. This principle means that no data collection activity should create or reinforce existing discrimination, bias, or stereotypes.
