SEED Method for Stakeholder Engagement in Question Development and Prioritization

Selection of research topics is usually done by researchers or sponsors. Efforts to include stakeholders are hampered by lack of willingness or understanding on the part of both researchers and stakeholders and lack of methodological standards. Few frameworks have been developed for collaborative generation of research questions.  We present a new method for involving stakeholders in the development of health-related research questions that combines collaborative, participatory and consultative engagement in a process that takes stakeholders from conceptualization of causal models to development and prioritization of research questions. Participation has the benefit of generating research that is consistent with the concerns, needs and values of stakeholders. Those with diverse viewpoints can bring a range of perspectives and priorities, as well as a greater level of understanding about the processes by which social and environmental factors affect health-related behaviors, decision making and health outcomes. We will report on a qualitative demonstration of the SEED Method in two sites in Virginia.