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Research design

This section is a collection of existing content that is intended to signpost and further support research design in a way that will demonstrate thorough EDIW consideration.

Every aspect of the research pipeline is at risk of bias and offers opportunities for increasing diversity and inclusivity: 

  • Project background and hypothesis e.g. bias in sources of supporting literature 
  • Research plan e.g. awareness of the impact on participants and their families, local populations, environment, impact on the research team and/or support staff such as placements field trips, travel 
  • Data acquisition e.g. bias in cell lines, -omics databases, human or animal subjects, source of plant or environmental samples 
  • Sharing of data e.g. accessibility by researchers in low and middle-income countries
  • Impact e.g. limited local impact or global 
  • Communicating results e.g. accessibility, and inclusiveness of materials on a website 
  • Public engagement e.g. increasing the diversity of the cohorts, review accessibility (venue, resources, food, and drink) inclusiveness including language and imagery 
  • Output dissemination e.g. authorship recognises all contributions including technical support 

Research design checklist

  • Are sex (biological) considerations taken into account in the research design, methods, analysis and interpretation, and/or dissemination of research findings?
  • Are gender (sociocultural) considerations taken into account in the research design, methods, analysis and interpretation, and/or dissemination of research findings?
  • Are race and ethnicity considerations taken into account in the research design, methods, analysis and interpretation, and/or dissemination of research findings?
  • If the research is using population/sample data, can that data be disaggregated by identity factors to determine differences between groups?
  • Is there diversity in the work consulted and referenced in supporting/secondary research?
  • Are other identity factors taken into account in the research design, methods, analysis and interpretation, and/or dissemination of research findings?
  • Does the research engage or involve Indigenous Peoples using best practices and established guidelines? For best practices, see Resources below 
  • If you answer "Yes" to any of these questions: Describe how identity factors will be considered in your research proposal 
  • If you answer "No" for one or more questions: Explain why identity factors are not applicable in your research proposal. 

Useful resources

For researchers whose work involves patients and/or healthy individuals, the NIHR Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit has some excellent resources.

The Government of Canada has developed a very comprehensive guide for applicants, which is also cross-referenced in UKRI documentation regarding EDIW. This online guide has the following list of questions that are particularly helpful to check against whilst developing your research design.

Institute of Population Health (IPH) EDI Research Toolkit Webinar (University of Liverpool staff only), slides available here: Embedding EDI in your research.