Inclusive Research: Engaging with the People Closest to the Issue

NANCY LA VIGNE, Ph.D.: Hello, I'm Nancy La Vigne, Ph. D. Director of the National Institute of Justice. At NIJ, we're committed to supporting research that makes a positive impact on our justice system. Now, research can take many forms. It ranges from qualitative to quantitative. But regardless of the methodology, it's my belief that researchers should take the time to engage with the people who are closest to the issue under study.

As Director of NIJ, it's my priority to support inclusive research that informs our efforts to promote safer communities and a more equitable justice system. Inclusive research is valuable because it has the potential to improve the quality of data collected and the accuracy of its interpretation.

We can define inclusive research through several core principles.

First, inclusive research is intentional about involving the people who are the experts on the topic. So take for example a study on desistence. Inclusive research may invite people with lived experience in the justice system to review and contribute to survey development.

Second, inclusive research demands that research findings be shared with the people who helped generate them. That could mean inviting the professional expertise of probation officers to help interpret findings on a community supervision study. They can also help identify implications for feasible and actionable improvements in supervision policies and practices. By sharing our findings with all involved, we can support the interpretation of results and we can help in developing action steps to make improvements informed by our research.

Third, inclusive research commits to using people-first language in all components of our work, from research conduct to the ways in which we write about and disseminate our findings. We should always lead with "people who" instead of labeling-and stigmatizing-someone just based on their experiences in the justice system.

And finally, inclusive research acknowledges and compensates the people we engage with in our studies-especially community members-for their time and for their expertise. By embracing the core principles of inclusive research, we can assure that our studies are grounded in real-world practices and experiences. That way, they'll yield more credible and impactful findings.

To summarize, the key principles of inclusive research are:

• First, involving those with lived experience and professional expertise in the research process.
• Second, sharing our findings with those who helped generate them.
• Third, using "people first" language.
• And fourth, acknowledging and compensating those involved in our research for their time and their expertise.

These core principles of inclusive research should be integrated into all aspects of the research process. In doing so, we can increase the odds that our findings will make an impact in promoting safety, equity, and justice for all.