Co-creating and Co-producing Research Evidence

The importance of a strong evidence-base is widely recognised in contemporary health, social care and education practice, meaning that there is a real need for research which can be quickly and easily translated into real world situations. Research co-produced by practitioners and academics from early stages to end results can draw on each party's knowledge and experience, in order to create high quality evidence that is relevant and appropriate to practice needs. This guide introduces the basics of co-producing research, looking at the evidence for co-produced research and outlining its theoretical underpinnings, as well as discussing barriers and facilitators to consider. It includes a practitioner perspective and an academic perspective on the benefits and challenges of co-produced research. The substantive chapters are each co-written by an academic and practitioner team and give examples of work carried out - and lessons learned - in public health, education and criminal justice settings. Key learning points are included throughout and drawn together to comprise a toolkit at the end of the book. This book teaches academics and practitioners more about how they can find practical evidence-based answers to complex questions.

Dorothy Newbury-Birch is Professor of Alcohol and Public Health Research at the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law at Teesside University where she leads a team of researchers and postgraduate students. Keith Allan is a Consultant in Public Health. He has a Master's in Public Health Research, University of Edinburgh, and a PhD in Child Health, University of Aberdeen.

1. Why should we Co-Produce Research? 2. Co-Production: The Academic Perspective 3. Co-Production: The Public Health Practitioner's Perspective 4. Working with Schools to Develop Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement 5. Pupils, Teachers and Academics Working Together on a Research Project Examining How Students and Teachers Feel About the New GCSE's 6. Public Health Practioners and Academics working together to evaluate a Mental Health Youth Awareness Programme 7. "It's not about telling people to eat better, stop smoking or get on the treadmill" 8. Co-Producing a Story of Recovery: A "Books Beyond Words" Book Group 9. How Do We Co-Produce Research in the Prison Environment? 10. Police Officers and Academics Working Together 11. Discussion: What are the Barriers and Facilitators to Co-Production Working and Tools for Working Effectively?