Research design – best practice examples

There are many examples where EDIW considerations in the research design have been shown to positively impact health outcomes.

The Government of Canada website provides examples for Biomedical Research, Clinical Research, Health Systems and Services Research and Population Health Research.

• Does sex make a difference in preclinical research?
• Traumatic brain injury: does gender matter?
• Is depression in men overlooked?

The EPSRC developed a UKRI-wide relevant document called Expectations for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Under ‘Expectation 6: Inclusive Research’ a set of sources with best practice examples are referenced including those of the Government of Canada cross-referenced above.

Developed through the NIHR School for Public Health Research and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast, the For Equity website provides tools and resources to help make research evidence more relevant for action to reduce social and health inequalities. Case studies can be accessed through the For Equity library and resources, examples include:

• Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) and Health Equity
• A framework to strengthen the focus on socio-economic inequalities in health within systematic reviews 
• Intersectionality and chronic disease inequalities.

Other examples from FHLS demonstrating good practice in terms of EDIW are:

• The BBSRC DTP has demonstrated good practice in relation to student recruitment
• The NERC ACCE DTP.