Regardless of the type of advisory group, some general guiding principles comprise:
- Being clear about the purpose of the group and what it’s being asked to do is essential for an effective advisory/involvement group.
- The type and composition of an advisory/involvement group will depend on its function, and the type of research it supports.
- Diversity, for example, in terms of ethnicity, gender, the inclusion of marginalised groups, and other characteristics, is key to achieving broad representation of experiences and views.
- Fostering trust throughout the process by being open, transparent and respectful is essential.
- Listening and responding appropriately to expressed views is a way of demonstrating respect for the lived experience and expertise of advisory group members.
- It is somewhat inevitable that diverse groups have power imbalances among members. Careful and skilled preparation and facilitation is needed to address these imbalances prospectively, to enable all voices to be heard equally.
- Being clear and achieving an agreement on the terms of reference for group members at the outset is essential for minimising misplaced expectations.
