{"id":96,"date":"2025-03-10T16:28:51","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T20:28:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=96"},"modified":"2026-01-20T09:58:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T14:58:00","slug":"module-2-co-designing-research","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/chapter\/module-2-co-designing-research\/","title":{"raw":"Module 2: Co-Designing Research","rendered":"Module 2: Co-Designing Research"},"content":{"raw":"When engaging with communities in research, co-design is crucial to ensuring that EDIA principles are prioritized. Let's learn about co-design in research!\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Learn about co-design, Co-Design Research, and Universal Design as methods in research with human participants<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Examine co-design in the context of an exemplar research project<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Case Study<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<em>A research team studying chronic pain in Indigenous communities wants to develop a culturally responsive survey. <\/em><em>They invite a few community members to provide feedback, but finalize the survey without making significant changes. When the survey is distributed, participation is low, and some community members express frustration that the questions do not reflect their lived experiences.<\/em>\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\r\n<h4><strong><span style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">\ud83e\uddd0 Consider This!<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\r\nAs a researcher, how can you ensure that co-designed research is a meaningful process and not a checkbox item?\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<h2>What Is Co-Design in Research?<\/h2>\r\nAt its core, <strong>co-design<\/strong> is all about collaboration with relevant stakeholders.\r\n\r\nParticularly, <strong>Co-Design Research<\/strong> is an approach which actively involves experts, professionals, and most importantly, persons with lived experiences who are impacted by a design outcome. This involvement extends into the design, facilitation and production of the work. In research this strategy focuses on designing the study with the target population, with the goal of engaging in research \u201cwith\u201d, not \u201cfor\u201d communities; rather than assuming their experiences and needs. It prioritizes relationships, shared power, using participatory means and building capacity for communities.\r\n\r\nIn contemporary research, co-design and <strong>participatory research practices<\/strong> which have historically been focused in qualitative methods, but are increasingly being used quantitative work.\r\n\r\nCo-designed research is an ongoing process that should span the entirety of the research project, where co-designers actively engage in developing research questions, methods, conducting analysis, and disseminating knowledge. When done right, co-designed research doesn\u2019t just build more knowledge; it empowers participants to tell their own stories and shape the world around them through the co-production of community outputs.\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<h4 class=\"textbox__title\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff\"><strong>Canadian Co-Design In Action:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #000000\">\ud83c\udf41 <\/span><\/strong>The \"<a href=\"https:\/\/codelearncreate.org\/\">Coding to Learn and Create<\/a>\" project is all about making coding accessible for kids with complex learning needs. By working directly with students, families, and special education teachers, the team designed a coding environment that meets diverse accessibility needs. They found that structured activities, one-on-one support, and familiar topics helped kids stay engaged and express their ideas.\r\n\r\nThis project not only improved coding accessibility but also built a supportive learning community where every child could develop problem-solving and planning skills in a way that works for them.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<h2>What about Universal Design? Is it the same?<\/h2>\r\nIn short, nope, not the same! [pb_glossary id=\"513\"]<strong>Universal Design<\/strong> [\/pb_glossary] (UD) is all about design that maximizes accessibility and benefits everyone overall. A popular example of this is curb cuts.\r\n\r\nCurb cuts are the sections of sidewalk that slope downwards to the ground near crosswalks. These city designs were originally made to make sidewalks more accessible for pedestrians with disabilities, but ended up benefiting all pedestrians, such as those pulling luggage or pushing strollers.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_514\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"401\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/431\/2025\/03\/1000_F_528316207_mMlIS0xSXf0x5DwW0NbLdbsMwvHhxtAj.jpg\" alt=\"An image of a &quot;curb cut&quot; on a sidewalk, with tactile strips indicating the end of the curb.\" width=\"401\" height=\"286\" class=\"wp-image-514\" \/> An image of a \"curb cut\" on a sidewalk, with tactile strips indicating the end of the curb.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nSince its beginnings in architecture, UD has been adopted to many other domains such as education and research. In research, UD can be grouped under three principles:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Planning multiple options for people to learn about and participate in research.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Providing multiple ways to present information (ex. large print, recordings, Braille)<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Providing multiple ways of responding to questions (ex. narrative diaries)<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nIt\u2019s important to note that UD mainly focuses on equality-based suggestions that provide all participants with the same support, rather than aiming for individualized equity (See: <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/chapter\/module-0-edi-a-principles-in-research\/\">Module 0: EDI + A principles in research)<\/a>.\r\n\r\nThis does not discount UD's value in research infrastructures. The equal availability of support, combined with additional equity-seeking practices according to the needs of participants, can create incredibly equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible research environments for participants and researchers alike.\r\n\r\nFor example, providing easily accessible support from the research team using a research-specific, anonymized messaging system might be implemented for people with disabilities to receive help navigating a survey. However it may also benefit all participants by giving a quick and easy way to ask questions about the study, ensuring that all participants are being informed and providing ongoing consent.\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\r\n<h4>\ud83e\uddd0 Consider This!<\/h4>\r\nShould researchers focus solely on universally designed research to create the most accessible survey? What other principles can be used synergistically with universally designed research to increase its efficacy?\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n&nbsp;","rendered":"<p>When engaging with communities in research, co-design is crucial to ensuring that EDIA principles are prioritized. Let&#8217;s learn about co-design in research!<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<ul>\n<li>Learn about co-design, Co-Design Research, and Universal Design as methods in research with human participants<\/li>\n<li>Examine co-design in the context of an exemplar research project<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Case Study<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><em>A research team studying chronic pain in Indigenous communities wants to develop a culturally responsive survey. <\/em><em>They invite a few community members to provide feedback, but finalize the survey without making significant changes. When the survey is distributed, participation is low, and some community members express frustration that the questions do not reflect their lived experiences.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\n<h4><strong><span style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">\ud83e\uddd0 Consider This!<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>As a researcher, how can you ensure that co-designed research is a meaningful process and not a checkbox item?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>What Is Co-Design in Research?<\/h2>\n<p>At its core, <strong>co-design<\/strong> is all about collaboration with relevant stakeholders.<\/p>\n<p>Particularly, <strong>Co-Design Research<\/strong> is an approach which actively involves experts, professionals, and most importantly, persons with lived experiences who are impacted by a design outcome. This involvement extends into the design, facilitation and production of the work. In research this strategy focuses on designing the study with the target population, with the goal of engaging in research \u201cwith\u201d, not \u201cfor\u201d communities; rather than assuming their experiences and needs. It prioritizes relationships, shared power, using participatory means and building capacity for communities.<\/p>\n<p>In contemporary research, co-design and <strong>participatory research practices<\/strong> which have historically been focused in qualitative methods, but are increasingly being used quantitative work.<\/p>\n<p>Co-designed research is an ongoing process that should span the entirety of the research project, where co-designers actively engage in developing research questions, methods, conducting analysis, and disseminating knowledge. When done right, co-designed research doesn\u2019t just build more knowledge; it empowers participants to tell their own stories and shape the world around them through the co-production of community outputs.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<h4 class=\"textbox__title\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff\"><strong>Canadian Co-Design In Action:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000\">\ud83c\udf41 <\/span><\/strong>The &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/codelearncreate.org\/\">Coding to Learn and Create<\/a>&#8221; project is all about making coding accessible for kids with complex learning needs. By working directly with students, families, and special education teachers, the team designed a coding environment that meets diverse accessibility needs. They found that structured activities, one-on-one support, and familiar topics helped kids stay engaged and express their ideas.<\/p>\n<p>This project not only improved coding accessibility but also built a supportive learning community where every child could develop problem-solving and planning skills in a way that works for them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>What about Universal Design? Is it the same?<\/h2>\n<p>In short, nope, not the same! <button class=\"glossary-term\" aria-describedby=\"96-513\"><strong>Universal Design<\/strong> <\/button> (UD) is all about design that maximizes accessibility and benefits everyone overall. A popular example of this is curb cuts.<\/p>\n<p>Curb cuts are the sections of sidewalk that slope downwards to the ground near crosswalks. These city designs were originally made to make sidewalks more accessible for pedestrians with disabilities, but ended up benefiting all pedestrians, such as those pulling luggage or pushing strollers.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_514\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-514\" style=\"width: 401px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/431\/2025\/03\/1000_F_528316207_mMlIS0xSXf0x5DwW0NbLdbsMwvHhxtAj.jpg\" alt=\"An image of a &quot;curb cut&quot; on a sidewalk, with tactile strips indicating the end of the curb.\" width=\"401\" height=\"286\" class=\"wp-image-514\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/431\/2025\/03\/1000_F_528316207_mMlIS0xSXf0x5DwW0NbLdbsMwvHhxtAj.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/431\/2025\/03\/1000_F_528316207_mMlIS0xSXf0x5DwW0NbLdbsMwvHhxtAj-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/431\/2025\/03\/1000_F_528316207_mMlIS0xSXf0x5DwW0NbLdbsMwvHhxtAj-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/431\/2025\/03\/1000_F_528316207_mMlIS0xSXf0x5DwW0NbLdbsMwvHhxtAj-65x46.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/431\/2025\/03\/1000_F_528316207_mMlIS0xSXf0x5DwW0NbLdbsMwvHhxtAj-225x161.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/431\/2025\/03\/1000_F_528316207_mMlIS0xSXf0x5DwW0NbLdbsMwvHhxtAj-350x250.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-514\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An image of a &#8220;curb cut&#8221; on a sidewalk, with tactile strips indicating the end of the curb.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Since its beginnings in architecture, UD has been adopted to many other domains such as education and research. In research, UD can be grouped under three principles:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Planning multiple options for people to learn about and participate in research.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Providing multiple ways to present information (ex. large print, recordings, Braille)<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Providing multiple ways of responding to questions (ex. narrative diaries)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>It\u2019s important to note that UD mainly focuses on equality-based suggestions that provide all participants with the same support, rather than aiming for individualized equity (See: <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/chapter\/module-0-edi-a-principles-in-research\/\">Module 0: EDI + A principles in research)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This does not discount UD&#8217;s value in research infrastructures. The equal availability of support, combined with additional equity-seeking practices according to the needs of participants, can create incredibly equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible research environments for participants and researchers alike.<\/p>\n<p>For example, providing easily accessible support from the research team using a research-specific, anonymized messaging system might be implemented for people with disabilities to receive help navigating a survey. However it may also benefit all participants by giving a quick and easy way to ask questions about the study, ensuring that all participants are being informed and providing ongoing consent.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\n<h4>\ud83e\uddd0 Consider This!<\/h4>\n<p>Should researchers focus solely on universally designed research to create the most accessible survey? What other principles can be used synergistically with universally designed research to increase its efficacy?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"glossary\"><div class=\"glossary__tooltip\" id=\"96-513\" hidden><p>Universal Design (UD) is an approach to design which prioritizes maximizing accessibility and benefits everyone, without adaptations or specialized designs.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":554,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-96","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":70,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/96","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/554"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/96\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":917,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/96\/revisions\/917"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/70"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/96\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=96"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=96"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/accessibledigitalsurveyresearch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=96"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}