Coresearchers

Coresearchers is a term used in research to describe individuals who participate as equal partners in the research process alongside professional researchers. The term is often used interchangeably with co-researchers or participatory researchers and emphasizes joint inquiry rather than a unidirectional researcher-subject relationship.

Coresearchers typically contribute to framing research questions, selecting methods, collecting and analyzing data, interpreting results, and disseminating findings. They may come from the communities affected by the research, from user groups, or from interdisciplinary teams. The governance structure often treats coresearchers as co-authors or equal contributors.

In field settings such as community-based participatory research, health services research, or participatory design, coresearchers help ensure relevance, trust, and uptake of outcomes. They also help address ethical considerations by sharing power, ensuring respect for local knowledge, and protecting privacy.

Challenges include balancing power, managing expectations, providing training, and navigating authorship and intellectual property. Funding and institutional policies may constrain flexibility in involving coresearchers. Effective collaboration relies on clear communication, mutual learning, and formal agreements on roles, compensation, and decision-making.

See also: participatory research, co-design, co-production, citizen science, patient and public involvement.