Easy Read
Paired Inclusive Research Dissemination (PIRD)
An easy way to understand how research should be shared with everyone
Author: Sarah Ailish McLoughlin
Publisher: The Index Line
What is this document?
This is an Easy Read document.
It explains an idea called Paired Inclusive Research Dissemination, or PIRD.
This document is for:
- people with learning difficulties
- people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- community researchers
- people who take part in research
- practitioners, advocates, and supporters
- anyone who finds academic writing hard to understand or access
This Easy Read document is as important as the academic version.
It is not extra. It is not a summary. It is one part of the research.
What is research?
Research is how people:
- ask questions
- learn new things
- try to understand the world
Research is often written in difficult language. Research is often shared in places many people cannot access.
This means:
- many people are left out
- people who help with research are not always recognised
- knowledge stays with a small group of people
What is the problem?
Many research projects say they are inclusive.
This means they try to include more people.
People might:
- help choose research questions
- share their experiences
- help make sense of findings
But often:
- only academics are named as authors
- only academic papers are saved and shared
- other ways of explaining research are not treated as important
People help make knowledge. But they are not always treated as researchers.
A key idea
If a theory explains exclusion, but reproduces it in how it is shared, the theory is unfinished.
This means:
- research should not only talk about inclusion
- research should practice inclusion
- how research is shared really matters
What is Paired Inclusive Research Dissemination (PIRD)?
PIRD is a way of sharing research.
It is a method. A method is a clear way of doing something.
It says:
- research should be shared in at least two ways
- both ways are planned from the start
- both ways are equally important
These two ways are called paired artefacts.
The two paired versions
The academic version
This version is written for:
- academics
- universities
- journals
It uses academic language and follows academic rules.
It helps the research to:
- be found
- be cited
- be recognised in universities
The inclusive version
This is the inclusive version.
It might be:
- Easy Read (like this document)
- plain language text
- pictures or diagrams
- audio or video
This version:
- explains the same ideas
- is not "less than" the academic version
- is made for people often excluded
This document is that inclusive version.
Why must both versions matter?
Often:
- the academic version is saved forever
- the accessible version is treated as "extra"
PIRD says this is not fair.
Both versions:
- are part of the research
- should be saved in the archive
- should be linked together
- should be citable
What does "archival authorship" mean?
An archive is a place where knowledge is kept safe for the future.
Authorship is about:
- who is named
- who gets credit
- who is recognised as a researcher
PIRD says:
- authorship is not just about one paper
- authorship is about what gets saved and shared
When inclusive versions are archived:
- people's work is not erased
- researcher status is supported by the system
Who is PIRD for?
PIRD is for:
- inclusive researchers
- people with lived experience
- disability researchers
- community research teams
- organisations and universities
It is especially important when research is about people's lives.
Paired document
This Easy Read document is paired with:
Paired Inclusive Research Dissemination (PIRD): An Archival Authorship Method
Recommended citation
Research should not leave people behind.
If people help make knowledge, they should be able to access it, understand it, and be recognised for it.
PIRD is one way to help make that happen.