Our project aims to compile evidence on best practices in inclusive and ethical qualitative research across various sectors to support Sport England's development of evidence-led guidance.
In collaboration with a network of experts from various sectors, Brunel University of London is compiling evidence on best practices in inclusive and ethical qualitative research. Our research spans sports, community, education, arts and culture, human/social geography, and public health sectors.
The goal is to support Sport England in developing evidence-led guidance on inclusive and ethical qualitative research.
Why guidance on inclusive and ethical qualitative research is needed
Our project addresses significant societal challenges by investigating key principles and processes underpinning inclusive and ethical qualitative research.
It seeks to identify best practices for implementing inclusive and ethical qualitative evaluation across different methods and contexts, enabling meaningful participation.
It also aims to uncover barriers to conducting inclusive and ethical research and propose mitigations for policymakers, practitioners, and participants.
Our research contributes to broader societal goals by tackling social inequities, promoting inclusivity, and enhancing the quality of qualitative research.
Key principles and processes
- Inclusive and ethical research design: Identifying principles and processes that ensure inclusivity and ethical considerations in qualitative research
- Best practices: Implementing inclusive and ethical qualitative evaluation methods across various contexts to enable meaningful participation
- Barriers and mitigations: Addressing challenges in conducting inclusive and ethical research and proposing solutions for policymakers, practitioners, and participants
- What existing guidance supports the implementation of inclusive research?
Call for evidence
The project seeks research, frameworks, and guidance tools from charities, government departments, funders, businesses, and community groups.
These should be defined as 'grey literature' and include reports, toolkits, or websites that provide information on designing and implementing inclusive and ethical research and evaluation.
Evidence should be from the sport, community, education, arts and culture, human/social geography, and public health sectors.
Submission criteria
- Principles, processes, and practices: Evidence must identify and support qualitative research/evaluation design principles
- Publication date: Must be published on or after 2015
- Format: Can be in written or visual form
- Language: Must be written in English and publicly available
How to submit evidence
Send relevant suggestions electronically to Dr Tarryn Godfrey at tarryn.godfrey@brunel.ac.ukopens new window with the subject line 'Call for evidence: inclusive and ethical qualitative research'. Submissions should be received by 24 March 2025, 5pm UK Time.
Meet the Principal Investigator(s) for the project
Professor Louise Mansfield - Career History
Louise Mansfield is Professor of Sport, Health and Social Sciences and Vice Dean for Research in the College of Health Medicine and Life Sciences. She is Director of the Centre for Health and Wellbeing across the Lifecourse. Her research focuses on the relationship between sport, physical activity and public health and wellbeing. Louise's expertise are in partnership and community approaches in sport and physical activity and issues of health, wellbeing, inequality and diversity. She has led research projects for the Department of Health, Youth Sport Trust, sportscotland, Economic and Social Research Council, Medical Research Council, Macmillan Cancer Support, Public Health England and Sport England. She sits on the editorial boards for Leisure Studies, Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health and the International Review for the Sociology of Sport and is Managing Editor of Annals of Leisure Research. Louise is known for developing evidence to inform policy and practice.
Dr Tarryn Godfrey - Tarryn is a Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Science (Sport Development). Her research employs qualitative methodologies and focuses on third sector partnerships, organisational capacity, and capacity building. She has extensive experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) and has established impactful partnerships with community sports organisations across the UK and internationally.
Related Research Group(s)
Health and Wellbeing Across the Lifecourse - Inequalities in health and wellbeing in the UK and internationally; welfare, health and wellbeing; ageing studies; health economics.
Partnering with confidence
Organisations interested in our research can partner with us with confidence backed by an external and independent benchmark: The Knowledge Exchange Framework. Read more.
Project last modified 20/03/2025