Resources and learning

This section of the toolkit provides links to resources to help you engage the public in your work, and learning to increase your confidence and skills in public involvement and engagement.

Resources

To support you in implementing our toolkit, we have identified a selection of resources to aid statistics producers in how they involve and engage the public:

User engagement support and good practice – Government Analysis Function

Summary:

Offers practical guidance and case studies to help you plan and deliver effective user engagement. It outlines principles for understanding users, improving accessibility, and adapting statistical products with user engagement.

Use when:

You are designing or reviewing engagement strategies, especially when aiming to improve the relevance and usability of statistical outputs.

Methods – Involve

Summary:

Provides a comprehensive overview of participatory methods for public engagement. It includes tools for approaches such as public dialogue, citizen advisory groups, and appreciative enquiry, helping statistics producers choose appropriate approaches based on their goals and audiences.

Use when:

You need help selecting or designing engagement methods tailored to your audience or project goals.

Tools and guidance hub – PEDRI

Summary:

A suite of resources and publications from a range of organisations, collated by the Public Engagement in Data Research Initiative (PEDRI). These resources include frameworks, templates, examples of previous research and practical advice for engaging the public in data-or statistics- related research.

Use when:

You are planning public involvement and engagement activities and want examples of what other people have done previously, or to find resources you can apply.

Good practice standards for public engagement in data for research and statistics – PEDRI (PDF)

Summary:

Outlines six key standards for meaningful public engagement, along with information on how they may be achieved. These standards help ensure that engagement activities are purposeful, respectful, and contribute to better data use and policy outcomes.

Use when:

You are setting up or evaluating engagement activities and want to ensure they meet recognised standards of good practice.

A guide to public engagement in practice – ADR UK

Summary:

A practical guide from Administrative Data Research UK (ADR UK) showcasing real-world examples of public engagement in data research. It sets out principles ADR UK follows for public engagement, followed by ways to engage the public, and case studies.

Use when:

You are seeking inspiration or practical examples of successful public engagement in data research.

Considering public views and engagement regarding the use of data for research and statistics – UK Statistics Authority

Summary:

Sets out why public views on the use of data are important, and how they can be considered in different situations. Particularly valuable in this publication is guidance around reviewing existing literature before undertaking new engagement.

Use when:

You want to understand public perspectives and are at an early stage of establishing plans to gather insights, including deciding whether or not new engagement is appropriate.

As described in the above guidance on considering public views and engagement regarding the use of data for research and statistics, when exploring public views the first stage ought to be understanding prior work in the area. To support you with this, we have identified existing public attitudes research on the use of data in statistics:

• Public attitudes to data and AI: Tracker survey (Wave 4) – UK: Presents findings from a longitudinal survey tracking public perceptions of data use and artificial intelligence
• What we know from engaging with the public on data: January 2025 – Office for National Statistics: Synthesises lessons learned from ONS’s public engagement activities
• A UK-wide public dialogue exploring what the public perceive as ‘public good’ use of data for research and statistics – Office for Statistics Regulation and ADR UK: Reports on a national dialogue exploring views around ‘public good’ in the context of data use

Learning

Successful public involvement and engagement requires skills that develop and strengthen with experience; the more you undertake these activities, the more confident you will become. PIE training is available from external providers, but individuals can undertake other activities to develop skills as well:

Participating in relevant professional communities

Joining networks such as Apolitical’s Citizen Engagement and Technology community can provide access to resources, free training opportunities, and peer support through discussion forums.

Attending free public engagement events

Organisations such as Connected by Data and PEDRI regularly host free online events covering a wide range of public engagement topics.

Shadowing Government Social Researchers (GSR)

Shadowing GSR colleagues as they conduct focus groups or other public-facing activities can help develop understanding of effective facilitation and inclusive engagement techniques.

Collaborating with the Government Communications Service (GCS)

Working with GCS professionals can support the development of clear, accessible materials by helping to reduce technical language and tailor content for public audiences.

Collecting and reflecting on feedback

After each engagement activity, seek feedback from participants to identify what worked well and where improvements can be made.

Undertaking training for core skills

PIE requires skills in areas such as written and verbal communication, facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and project management. Therefore, undertaking training on any of these topics can strengthen your ability to meaningfully engage members of the public.