The Civil Service is looking for volunteers to take part in major research into the everyday lived experience of individual disabled people.
Policy Lab, is based in the Cabinet Office and brings people-centred design approaches to policy-making providing policy teams across the Civil Service with practical support to better understand the people they are trying to reach and working with them to co-design new solutions.
The Policy Lab are looking for people who have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on their ability to do normal daily activities. Their research methods can be adapted to suit a participant’s needs (which they would discuss with them in advance). They give incentives in the form of High Street Vouchers to all research participants.
Initially they are looking for participants to take part in the first stage of this research (journey mapping & diary exercise) only, but would like to recruit people who would also be interested in taking part in the second stage (film ethnography) if the opportunity arose.
The first stage involves a two hour face-to-face meeting with one of their researchers and diary activity prior to meeting with the researcher helping the participant to map important elements of their life, including their high and low points. There are a number of possible ways of doing this, and the methodology can be adapted to the participant’s needs.
For the second part a film ethnographer (possibly accompanied by another person) would spend a day with the participant as they go about their normal life. It would be a mixture of observation and conversation, all captured on camera. Participants will have the choice about whether or not they want the film to be public.
Policy Lab are looking to recruit a broad mix of adult participants of all ages. If you’re interested and wish to find out more email policylab@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
