Currently, there are various participatory methodologies that seek to include research subjects in different phases of the scientific process. However, none of these methodologies achieve the depth of inclusion and impact offered by co-creation. In this approach, science is not developed unidirectionally from the researcher to the public; rather, it is generated through continuous dialogue between both, allowing for the joint construction of knowledge.
One of the most relevant aspects of co-creation is that the results obtained have social impact, that is, citizens perceive the improvements directly in their lives. Since they are created in dialogue with the public, these findings are not only validated theoretically but also generate perceptible improvements in people’s daily lives. An example of this impact can be found in research on sexual consent.
When scientific evidence on sexual consent is shared with young people in an egalitarian dialogue, they can identify these findings within their own experiences. Many express that they had never heard these ideas so clearly until they had direct access to scientific evidence. As a result, some young people state that they feel more capable of recognizing coercive situations in their daily lives and affirm that, thanks to this dialogue with the scientific community, they might be able to avoid situations of pressure in the future. This ability to analyze and reflect provides them with tools to make freer decisions in their personal relationships, helping them counteract the prevailing coercive discourse that, especially in the early stages of relationships, often pushes young people to accept unwanted interactions.
But the impact of co-creation is not limited to individual improvement among participants. The dialogue between young people and researchers also enriches science itself. By sharing their experiences and perspectives, young people contribute to identifying improvements in sexual consent awareness campaigns, making them more effective for others. In this way, co-creation generates a circle in which science impacts society, and society, in turn, improves science.
For all these reasons, fostering research through co-creation not only benefits the public by giving them an active role in generating knowledge but also strengthens science, making it more relevant, accessible, and effective. The more co-creation is integrated into research processes, the better the results will be for both society and scientific advancement.
Postdoctoral Researcher (FPI - Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities) at the Department of Sociology, University of Barcelona.
Currently conducting a research stay at the Center for Research on Ending Violence (Rutgers University)