The roles and functions of advisory/involvement groups vary tremendously. Here are some common functions:

  • Providing a forum for discussing research priorities with researchers.
  • Providing a forum to share community perspectives, concerns, rumours and fears about research throughout the project, and contributing to the development of appropriate strategies to address them.
  • Providing a forum where members can share their views on specific research plans, proposals and protocols with researchers. This might mean discussing whether the proposed research is:
    • Relevant and useful to the populations where the research is being carried out,
    • Acceptable to participants and whether the benefits of conducting the research out-weigh the risks, and
    • Feasible within the context and timeframe in which the proposed research is taking place.
  • Providing a forum where members can share their views and ideas on research designs, recruitment, implementation, procedures, and dissemination.
  • To advise on appropriate ways of engaging communities and/or the public and to identify additional parties of interest.
  • Reviewing and modifying informed consent forms and communications materials to improve appropriateness for participants and the public.