Identifying the priorities for supervision by lived experience researchers: A Q sort study

Abstract

Background Lived experience researchers draw on their lived experiences to inform and interpret their research. They bring complex service user and survivor histories to their work and must manage their health conditions and the interplay of their lived experiences with the research, population, and data they work with, as well as the more general challenges of being a researcher. They must navigate these dilemmas in addition to queries over their competency, due to issues relating to intersectionality and epistemic injustice. This justifies a motivation to better understand the experiences of lived experience researchers and develop appropriate and personalised supervision based on their preferences and needs. Method Q methodology was used to identify a collection of identity-related issues that impact lived experience researchers during PhD research. These 54 statements were presented to 18 lived experience researchers to prioritise as topics to explore to understand their subjective needs from supervision. Results Three distinct factors were found following an inverted factor analysis: Factor 1: Strengthening my identity, skills, growth, and empowerment; Factor 2: Exploring the emotional and relational link I have with the research and Factor 3: Navigating my lived and professional experiences practically and emotionally. The findings suggest that there are three types of lived experience researchers, each with different needs from supervision, suggesting the population is heterogeneous. Conclusions The research identified a deeper understanding of the subjective needs of lived experience researchers and highlights the importance of personalised supervision according to their individual needs, and preferences for supervision. The findings reinforce the importance of integrating a clinical dimension into supervision to support the needs of each lived experience researcher.