Participants wanted for research in to how design can help people with their personal preferences

Marney Walker writes:
“My research is a PhD enquiry funded by Lab4Living Sheffield Hallam University . Lab4Living is research centre specialising in design for health and wellbeing. A collaborative community of researchers in design, healthcare and creative practices who work together to address real world issues that impact on health and wellbeing. Developing products, services and interventions that promote dignity and enhance quality of life.
The project:
However much dementia might affect the way our minds work, we will always know what we like. Having the everyday things around us that we like can bring us a sense of pleasure and reflect and maintain a sense of identity. My research is exploring how design can help people to express their personal, everyday, aesthetic preferences.
Who specifically do you want to be involved?
I would like to talk to people, one to one, in their own homes, who are living with dementia who are able to use or be supported to use zoom. I am using everyday objects like a favourite mug, a pack of colour choices, and favourite spaces in the participants home, as a way to reflect on likes and dislikes and the reason for their choices
When will the project take place?
Through individual 2-or 3 one to one meetings on zoom – from June to December 2022
Where will the project take place?
I will be talking to people remotely using video conferencing (zoom) so participants will be speaking to me from their own homes
How long will people be involved for?
the process involves 2-3 meetings (30-45 minutes) over approximately 4-6 weeks at times suited to the participant. Following each meeting a compilation of quotes and images from the recordings will be sent to the participants to sense check whether these represent their choices
How many people with dementia do you want to involve?
10-15 participants
Short description:
I am using this process as way to explore whether I can develop a toolkit or method that can be used by people living with dementia, their families and carers. Tools that can provide visual ways to express choices in everyday life, when others might be making everyday decisions on our behalf. I am interested in whether, by focusing on the capabilities that are retained in dementia – using sensory visual response to the world around us, can make it easier to express our choices.
What kind of support is available?
I will send out a pack of colour cards and a simple explanatory booklet – to explain what is involved. The booklet can also serve as something to refer to between meetings , and for participants to add their own notes if they wish.
Who will be doing the administration?
I will be solely responsible for contacting the participants, arranging time to introduce myself, and explain what is involved. I will be responsible for agreeing times for meetings, and sending reminders, and for sending a booklet containing compilations of quotes and images from the recordings to the participant following each meeting
What kind of expenses are available?
As a sole researcher, I do not have funding available for expenses for carers or supporters.
Have you got a budget to pay for refreshments and venue hire as well as transport?
As the meetings will take place in the comfort of the participants home -at times that are convenient to them – transport will not be an issue
How will you make sure that people’s information is kept safe or anonymous?
All recordings will be coded for confidentiality and saved securely on the Sheffield Hallam University secure Q drive. Any images captured from the video recordings will not show the participants face. If part of the participants face is in view it will be obscured or blurred so that the person is not recognisable. If images are to be used as part of online websites, blogs or presentations, express permission will be sought from the participant to use them
Have you got relevant ethical approval for research projects?
I have ethical approval from the Sheffield Hallam University Research Ethics Committee( Ethic Review ID: ER34886059)to recruit participants living with dementia, to test this process as described.
Are you or your organisation going to profit financially or otherwise?
No financial gain is anticipated from this research
How will you let people know what has happened because of their involvement?
At the end of their participation each participant will be provided with a debriefing document – that will outline the anticipated dates related to completion and submission of my thesis – Participants will be given the option to follow my progress and news of any outputs on an online blog that I will be using to capture highlights of findings and possible outcomes.
When will you be able to report back about progress on the project?
I will be using a blog to document some highlights of findings and potential outcomes and my final thesis and recommendations from the research is expected to be submitted at the latest by November 2023

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