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Research as Engagement
The Research as Engagement Model (REM) articulates how I've come to view behavioral research itself as supporting public engagement goals.
“All human subjects research is public engagement. Human subjects research experiments inherently communicate with participants about the researchers, the field, and science. Accordingly, human subjects research is an occasion to do intentional public engagement with research participants, considering each study participant not only as a data point but as an opportunity for meaningful interaction about science. Not considering the experience of research participants does not somehow allow a researcher to opt out of communicating with participants, it just means that the research may communicate poorly and/or send unintentional messages.”
From Vaughn (2026, Journal of Experimental Psychology: General) p. 262
As human subjects researchers, how can we be more mindful about what and how our research studies communicate with our participants?
Debriefing resources
Debriefing resources
One concrete way that human subjects researchers can make interactions with experimental participants work toward public engagement goals is through thoughtfully designed debriefings.
I've put together a set of resources for behavioral researchers who want to make their debriefings more public engagement-focused.
Guidance for designing debriefings
Guidance for designing debriefings
Overview guidance document: Guidelines for developing debriefings with public engagement in mind [Google doc link]
Worksheet: Use to brainstorm as you create/revise a debriefing for your own study [Google doc link]
Reference list: Academic papers about debriefings [Google doc link]
If you use any of these materials and find them helpful, or lacking in some way, please let me know. These resources are all a work in progress, so feedback and comments are welcome!
Thank you to Research!America's Public Engagement Content Awards and the Dana Foundation, and NSF awards #2116959 and #2315039 for their support in the development of these materials.
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