Evaluating research co-production: protocol for the Research Quality Plus for Co-Production (RQ+ 4 Co-Pro) framework.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Knowledge Translation
• Research Methodology

Background:

• Research co-production involves users and researchers collaborating to generate relevant knowledge and increase its practical application.
• Current theories and methods for assessing the quality of research co-production are limited.
• A new framework, Research Quality Plus for Co-Production (RQ+ 4 Co-Pro), is proposed to address this gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To field test the relevance and utility of the RQ+ 4 Co-Pro framework.
• To assess the quality of research co-production using a novel, systematic approach.
• To gather insights from co-production project leads on the framework's applicability.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 16-20 project leads from the Integrated Knowledge Translation Research Network.
• Trained participants in the RQ+ 4 Co-Pro framework via deliberative workshops.
• Conducted simulation assessment exercises within dyadic groups and collected data through semi-structured interviews.

Main Results:

• The study will provide knowledge on a new method for assessing research co-production quality.
• The relevance and utility of the RQ+ 4 Co-Pro framework will be evaluated.
• Data will illuminate user experiences with the novel assessment framework.

Conclusions:

• The RQ+ 4 Co-Pro framework offers a systematic and transferable method for evaluating co-production quality.
• It integrates context as essential and aligns quality dimensions with co-production goals.
• Findings will benefit researchers, funders, and administrators involved in research co-production.