Welcome to the Research Methods Toolkit for Society and Mental Health
Curious about doing research? Involved in collecting information or data to understand society and mental health? Find yourself sharing that information with others?
If so, then this is the place for you!
Welcome to your very own online Research Methods Toolkit. Across this website you will find high-quality, engaging resources that discuss research design and ethics; qualitative, quantitative and participatory methods; data analysis; knowledge dissemination and much more. These resources come in a wide range of formats:
- how-to manuals and guides
- podcasts, videos and info-graphics
- academic articles and books
Each page explores a particular approach or method by focusing on what it is, how to use it, and what it looks like in practice. The Toolkit is designed to be accessible to all, featuring introductory and more advanced material on every page.
The creation of the Research Methods Toolkit has been guided by a commitment to co-production. We follow the key principles outlined by the National Service User Network of collaboration, redefining our understanding of legitimate knowledge and placing those with lived experiences at the centre of our research. We understand co-production to be more than a method. It is an ethos that runs through the entire research process – from identifying a topic, to study design, to data collection and analysis, and finally to knowledge dissemination.
We hope you enjoy the Toolkit!
How to use this website
How is the Research Methods Toolkit put together? It follows the idea of the ‘research cycle’, with its organising principle being that research takes place in several stages.
As you can see in the diagram, the research cycle does not simply run from ‘start’ to ‘finish’. Rather, it allows your results to spark new topics and projects, and restart the cycle. You can join the research cycle at any stage according to your own needs and ambitions.
One great aspect about this flexible approach to research is that if you are part of a wider community of people interested in a topic, you can easily share tasks and responsibilities fairly among community members. No particular researcher needs to lead the process the whole way through, and you can involve new community members as a new stage begins.
Our Team
Hanna Kienzler
I am a Professor of Anthropology and Global Health in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at…
Sonia Thompson
Sonia Thompson has spent most of her career in academia and currently works as a freelance in…
Bethan Edwards
Dr Bethan Edwards has long term experience of living with a mental health condition and is passionate about…
Rick Burgess
Rick Burgess is a disabled activist based in Greater Manchester, he co-founded the WOW Petition calling for a Cumulative…
Our Partners
This website was built with the support from our partners:
We’d love to hear from you
Collaboration is at the heart of our Research Methods Toolkit which means we value your voice, and want to hear what you have to say. Questions, suggestions and comments help us understand what works and what needs improvement. Feel free to suggest new content and resources that we might be able to develop for the Toolkit.