What is user controlled research?
User controlled research is actively directed and managed by people who use services and by their organisations. They set the issues and questions, and have a central role in decisions about design, delivery and reporting.
Control can include leading an advisory or steering group, shaping how the work is carried out and, where appropriate, undertaking the research itself. The defining feature is not a title but where meaningful decision-making power sits.
People use the terms user controlled and user led in different ways. For some, the terms overlap. Others use user led to describe work that is influenced and shaped by people with lived experience while final control remains with another group, such as funders, researchers or service providers.
Why the distinction matters
Being clear about who can make which decisions helps everyone understand the purpose of involvement, avoid tokenistic roles and create accountable ways of working.
Why people choose this approach
Accounts of user controlled research often describe a commitment to improving the lives of a community, alongside a wish to address questions that may be overlooked by conventional research.
- It can bring priorities grounded in lived experience to the centre of the research agenda.
- It can challenge assumptions about which issues matter and how evidence should be gathered.
- It can support research communication that is relevant and accessible to the people most affected.
Questions to consider
Teams considering this approach should discuss scope, authority, resources and support early. It is important to set out what can be decided by the people directing the work, how disagreements will be handled and how learning will be recorded.