Stakeholder engagement (SE) refers to the involvement of impacted communities and individuals
as partners in—rather than mere subjects of—research. Or, in other words: the active, iterative
process of “soliciting the knowledge, experience, judgment and values of [selected] individuals…
represent[ing] a broad range of direct interest in a particular issue.”
In the context of health research, there is a diverse range of SE models, ranging from consultations (requesting stakeholders’ input at
specific moments in the research process), to co-production (engaging stakeholders as
decision-makers throughout the research process). The more equitable the partnership, the less
control academics may have over the research process, timeline and results—but the greater the
potential for transformative impact
April 5, 2023