2. Is PPI a Research Methodology?

Researchers new to PPI can misinterpret PPI activities as part of a research methodology. As stated earlier, a ‘participant’ is the subject of a study; they, or part of them, is what is being studied. Data which will later be systematically analysed is, in some way, being gathered from them. A PPI contributor may be a participant (see below), but their PPI contribution should not be their data.

Methodologies have a knowledge-making purpose (an ‘epistemological’ purpose). As a researcher, you choose a methodology because you believe that it will be the most useful way to create valid, reliable data that will answer the question that you are addressing. A research method is chosen as the most appropriate way to gather the data needed.

A useful ‘rule of thumb’ is as follows: PPI activity is not a mechanism for gathering research data from the PPI contributors nor a way of validating qualitative data. If the PPI activity is being done for either of those purposes, then it is probably not PPI; it is an element of your methodology.

What about Action Research / Participatory Research?

One area where there is a blurring between methodology and PPI is Participatory or Action Research. In these methodologies, participants are often involved in setting the agenda, planning the research and many other aspects of the research project, as well as being participants in the study.

Those who are following a Participatory or Action Research methodology can make a compelling argument that their methodology is based on PPI activity. Highlighting the non-data gathering parts of the process can be akin to a PPI plan of activities.

Rather than spend time differentiating between Participatory or Action Research and PPI, it is more helpful to highlight to researchers using all other methodologies that PPI can be useful within your work, regardless of your chosen methodology.

Can study participants be PPI contributors?

Outside of Participatory or Action Research, this depends on whether the PPI contributor’s role will adversely affect their ability to participate in the same way as other participants. For example, someone who has been directly involved in the design of the research process may not be able to be a research interviewee because they have gained too much insight into the academic framing of the research. Someone who helped to set the research agenda, however, could certainly be a participant on a study. Alternatively, someone who had been a participant on a study could become involved in developing dissemination strategies or translating the findings into impact.