"This book argues that service user involvement in research can range from the extremes of being the subject to being the initiator or investigator of a research study. The activity of the professional researcher can also range from being the person undertaking the research, to being a partner with or mentor to service users. This broad scope of levels of involvement is reflected in the contributions in this book, both in the research experiences reported and in the writing of the chapters themselves.

The contributions come from a range of service areas including learning disabilities, cancer care, older people and mental illness, and the chapters look at important research issues such as: strategies for working in true partnership; avoiding 'tokenism'; involving service users at all stages of the research process; communication and terminology; involving service users of different ages and experience; training needs of professionals and service users; problems surrounding 'payment' for service users; and other ethical and practical issues."

"Involving Service Users in Health and Social Care Research is invaluable reading for researchers in health and social care from academic, professional and service user backgrounds. It will also be of interest to lecturers and students in health, social care and other applied sciences."--Jacket.