Representation in Research webinar: Let’s talk about inclusion

The research sector is committed to inclusion, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate in research. However, implementing inclusion in practice can be challenging. Concerns about making mistakes, alienating participants, or upsetting clients often hold practitioners back from advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the research process.

In this webinar, hosted by the MRS Representation in Research Steering Committee, we’ll discuss updated guidelines from the MRS Senior Client Council on client-focused inclusion best practices. We’ll also explore research from Basis Social on public perspectives regarding inclusive language and terminology, revealing how “official” terminology sometimes contrasts with how people prefer to describe themselves or others.

The second half of the session will feature a panel discussion with representatives from CORe, MRSpride, MRS Unlimited, and the MRS Social Equity Group. Together, we’ll examine the importance of language in creating truly inclusive research. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions to both panellists and speakers.

What you’ll learn:

• The updated MRS Senior Client Council guidance will provide you the latest best practice for inclusion in methodology, language, samples, and accessibility by design.
• The Basis Social research, based upon a large-scale national survey with over 4,000 UK adults research, will show how the public, and different demographic groups, think of the language used to describe characteristics such as disability and health conditions, ethnicity and sexual orientation, as well as wider attitudes to the use of language.
• The representatives from the social purpose groups will provide a wider perspective on different social and demographic characteristics, including protected characteristics, in research and insight.