ESRA 2027 sessions by theme
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Public, Participant and Stakeholder Engagement in Survey Research |
| Coordinator 1 | Dr Erica Wong (University College London) |
| Coordinator 2 | Ms Meghan Rainsberry (University College London) |
Session Details
Survey research increasingly depends on meaningful engagement with participants, members of the public, and wider stakeholders throughout the research process. Beyond supporting recruitment and retention, engagement activities can help ensure that surveys are relevant, inclusive, trustworthy, and responsive to the needs and perspectives of the populations they seek to understand.
This session will explore the diverse ways in which public, participant, and stakeholder engagement can inform the design, implementation, governance, and dissemination of survey research. We welcome contributions examining how engagement activities influence survey content, data collection strategies, communication methods, recruitment materials, ethical approaches, and other survey design decisions. Papers might consider the role of participant advisory groups, co-design approaches, public involvement panels, community consultations, or other mechanisms for incorporating participant perspectives into research.
The session also seeks to highlight engagement undertaken at different stages of the survey lifecycle and with different audiences. This may include engagement with participants and potential participants, underrepresented communities, policymakers, service providers, third-party organisations, data holders, and other stakeholders whose perspectives can shape survey design and impact. We are particularly interested in reflections on the benefits, challenges, and practical lessons arising from engagement activities, including how researchers evaluate their influence on survey processes and outputs.
Contributions may present empirical findings, methodological innovations, case studies, or critical reflections from a wide range of survey contexts. By bringing together experiences from studies around the world, the session aims to advance understanding of how meaningful engagement can strengthen survey research and build public trust in data collection and data use.
