Good Practice Standards Toolkit

We recommend using the Toolkit is you are:

• A researcher working with the public in data and statistics projects
• A public engagement practitioner who is planning and delivering involvement and engagement activities
• A team and organisation embedding good practice public involvement and engagement into data research and statistics
• A public contributor helping to shape data and statistics projects and programmes

• Journey Log: A template for planning your public involvement and engagement, monitoring progress, and capturing reflections throughout a project or programme.
• Guidance: Step-by-step instructions and reflection prompts for using the Toolkit effectively.
• Real-world examples: Examples of what you could include in the Journey Log based on real data research projects.
• Practical examples: Sample objectives, key results and activities mapped to each Good Practice Standard.

The Toolkit helps you:

• Apply the Good Practice Standards across all stages of public involvement and engagement activities
• Assess how well your public involvement and engagement activities reflect the Standards
• Identify strengths and areas for improvement
• Promote consistent, effective and high-quality practice across data research and statistics

Many public involvement and engagement guidance documents, frameworks and tools exist, often tailored to health research. This Toolkit complements these resources by addressing the distinct context and challenges of data research and statistics.

It is not intended to replace existing resources; instead, it can work with them. For example, if there is a specific evaluation framework you prefer to use, you can use it and record any impacts, reflections and lessons learned in the journey log – or link to your evaluation findings from the Journey Log.

The Toolkit was developed by PEDRI’s Good Practice Standards Working Group. This Working Group was established to support the advancement of public involvement and engagement in data research and statistics. The Group is made up of representatives from PEDRI partner organisations, public engagement professionals and public contributors. Since the publication of the Standards, the Group has focused on creating this practical toolkit to help apply the Good Practice Standards in real world contexts.

PEDRI’s Good Practice Standards have been developed to guide practices for public involvement and engagement (PIE) in the use of data for research and statistics. Building on existing guidance, these standards are designed to support researchers, PIE professionals, and all those involved in data-related projects, ensuring that public voice is an integral part of the data community.

The Good Practice Standards are:

• Equity, diversity & inclusion
• Data literacy & training
• Two-way communication
• Transparency
• Mutual benefit
• Effective involvement & engagement
• Creating a culture of involvement

Find out more about the Standards.