Rapid Evaluation Research Symposium 2026

Inclusive research: The logic of inclusion

Rapid evaluations are responsive to evidence needs of policymakers, commissioners, and health and social care professionals supporting design and delivery of high quality and equitable provision. To meaningfully explore equity, rapid evaluations must be grounded in inclusive research principles and robust patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE). Without this, evaluations risk unintentionally excluding the perspectives, priorities and lived experiences of underserved or marginalised groups, potentially reinforcing rather than reducing inequalities.

Who is this session aimed at?

Those involved in designing, conducting, or supporting rapid evaluations in health and social care, particularly researchers, PPIE leads, and those with responsibility for equity, diversity, and inclusion.

What are the session objectives?

1. To create a shared space for reflection on the value and challenges of inclusion and PPIE in rapid evaluations
2. To explore tensions, constraints, and trade-offs encountered in real-world rapid evaluation contexts
3. To collaboratively develop a shared logic model for inclusion and PPIE across rapid evaluation stages
4. To inform the development of a practical, collectively owned resource for inclusive rapid evaluation practice

Who is delivering this session?

Stephanie Gillibrand is a Research Fellow in the REVAL rapid evaluation team based at the University of Manchester. Stephanie is a qualitative and mixed-methods research with a focus on health inequalities, access to and experiences of healthcare services for marginalised and under-served groups; experiences of marginalisation and social inequalities.  

Cath Larkins is a Professor of Childhood Studies, innovating in participatory research and practice with children, young people, and their allies, across the UK and Europe. With communities facing marginalisation, she co-creates guidance and participatory processes to promote meaningful collaboration, particularly in public decision-making. Her scholarship advances theories and methodologies for understanding and strengthening inclusive participation, citizenship and social care and has led to impact on policy and practice nationally and internationally. Cath is Co-Director of University of Lancashire Centre for Children and Young People's Participation, Co-Director of the NIHR Social Care Rapid Evaluation Team (SOCRATES), and Advisor to the EU (DG Just, Fundamental Rights Agency), Council of Europe Children's Rights Directorate and UK Department for Culture Media and Sport. 

Pei Li Ng is the PPIE Co-Lead and Senior Programme Manager for the NIHR-funded Rapid Service Evaluation Team (RSET). She drives inclusive research, co-leads the Community of Practice for PPIE in rapid evaluations, and brings operational leadership in research delivery. She is passionate about embedding meaningful involvement in health research and service improvement. 

Jenny Shand is Professor of Applied Health Research at UCL. She directs the NIHR Rapid Service Evaluation Team (RSET), leading national evaluations of digital technologies including Ambient Voice Technology, AI in chest X-rays for lung cancer diagnostics, and innovations in maternity services. Her portfolio includes major programmes on adolescent mental health, including scaling evidence-based interventions in schools, building models for prevention and improving access to trusted digital content for young people. She is inequalities and data lead for the NIHR Policy Research Unit for Reproductive Health, and co-PI of the Sprocket innovation hub, working to reduce inequalities in access to care and education for children with complex needs. Across her portfolio, Jenny specialises in rapid, real-world evaluation of health service innovations and in accelerating high-quality evidence into practice. She is a Non-Executive Director at Care City, Strategy Advisor to Harley Street Health District and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. 

Sophie Spitters is a Research Fellow in the BRACE Rapid Evaluation team based at the University of Birmingham. In her research, she explores the co-creation, implementation and evaluation of innovations aimed at improving people’s health, care, and wellbeing – with particular interests in health inequalities, quality improvement, digital innovations, and integrated care. Sophie is BRACE lead for equality, diversity and inclusion. 

Session format

This two-part, interactive workshop combines short provocations from the session leads with guided small-group discussions.

Workshop 1 Morning invites participants to reflect on their practice and the value of inclusion and PPIE in rapid evaluations. This discussion will initiate the co-creation of a logic model for inclusion in rapid evaluations. Working in pairs, participants will identify the building blocks and strategies that support inclusive and PPIE-informed approaches, considering themes such as cultural competence, relational trust, representation, accessibility, digital versus face-to-face affordances, researcher reflexivity, and ethical practice. Participants will feedback their insights to create a shared logic model and share their experiences pursing inclusive and PPIE-led rapid evaluation to explore if and how the model addresses successes, real-world tensions, constraints and trade-offs. 

Workshop 2 Afternoon will refine the logic model and translate it into a practical shared resource to support inclusion and PPIE across rapid evaluation stages. Participants will review and update the model, and then prioritise and map its concepts, tools, and strategies onto the key stages of rapid evaluation - scoping, data collection, analysis, dissemination, and ongoing learning.

Deliverables

The session will culminate in a prototype framework and resource set to guide future inclusive, equitable, and PPIE-informed rapid evaluations. The session will close with a forward-looking discussion to inform next steps. 

Knowledge mobilisation: How do rapid evaluation centres interpret and enact effective knowledge mobilisation?

Knowledge mobilisation (KM) is a well-established component of applied health and social care research, yet rapid evaluations create distinctive pressures and opportunities for how evidence is generated, shared, and used. Compressed timelines, evolving policy questions, and the need for simultaneous engagement and analysis mean that KM in rapid evaluation settings often differs from more traditional approaches. This session explores how rapid evaluation centres currently interpret and enact KM, and what makes KM distinctive in rapid evaluation contexts.

Through structured reflection and collaborative discussion, the session aims to build a shared understanding of how KM is approached across rapid evaluations, what has worked well in practice, and what challenges teams encounter when seeking to ensure evidence is timely, relevant, and taken up by intended audiences.

Who is this session aimed at?

Those involved in designing, delivering, or supporting rapid evaluations in health and social care, including researchers, evaluation leads, and those with responsibility for implementation, engagement, and knowledge mobilisation.

What are the session objectives?

1. To explore how KM is currently understood and enacted within rapid evaluation settings
2. To identify what is distinctive about KM in rapid evaluations compared to other applied research contexts
3. To surface practical experiences of what has worked well and what has been challenging in mobilising evidence
4. To identify enablers, gaps, and priorities for strengthening KM in rapid evaluation teams

 Who is delivering this session?

Juliette Malley is an Associate Professorial Research Fellow and a Senior Fellow of the NIHR School for Social Care Research. She co-directs the NIHR-funded Social Care Rapid Evaluation Team (SOCRATES) and is Deputy Director (Social Care) for the Policy Research Unit in Policy Innovation and Evaluation (PIRU), leading the Social Care team and the innovation theme. Juliette’s research explores processes of change and contemporary developments in social care policy and practice, often evaluating the consequences of changes to inform decision-making by policymakers and social care organisations. 

 Paul Wilson is Professor of Implementation Science at the University of Manchester. He is Implementation Science theme lead for NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester and Co-Director of the NIHR Rapid Service Evaluation Team – REVAL. Paul's research interests are focused on implementation science, evaluation of large-scale health service change and national policy implementation. 

 Judith Smith is Professor of Health Policy and Management in the Health Services Management Centre at the University of Birmingham. She is Co-Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded Birmingham, RAND Europe and Cambridge (BRACE) rapid evaluation centre, Trustee and Chair of Health Services Research UK, the membership organisation for health services researchers across the four nations of the UK, and Director of Health Services Research with Birmingham Health Partners, the alliance which brings together NHS organisations in Birmingham with the Universities of Birmingham and Aston to drive high-impact research and innovation. Judith’s research interests include: the organisation and management of primary care; long-term conditions and integrated care; health purchasing and commissioning; evaluation of health care organisation and service delivery; and health care management and governance.

Session format

This two-part interactive workshop combines short inputs with facilitated small-group work and collective synthesis.

Session 1 morning focuses on understanding what is distinctive about KM in rapid evaluation. Following an orientation to KM principles, including NIHR’s framing and insights from recent literature, participants will work in small groups to reflect on a specific rapid evaluation they have been involved in. Discussions will focus on how evidence was mobilised, intended audiences, activities undertaken at different stages, what worked well, what was challenging, and what was distinctive about the rapid evaluation context. Group insights will be shared in plenary and thematised to generate an initial set of characteristics, challenges, and enablers of KM in rapid evaluation.

Session 2 afternoon builds on these themes and shifts attention from current practice to what teams need in order to mobilise evidence effectively. Participants will work across three areas: supporting and developing individuals and teams; working with partners within and beyond rapid evaluation teams; and using social media and emerging technologies alongside established approaches. Group discussions will refine and expand the themes from Session 1, with a focus on identifying priorities, gaps, and elements of good practice.

Deliverables

The session will conclude by confirming shared themes and key learning across both workshops. These will inform the development of follow-on outputs, including papers and a good practice guide, capturing collective insights on how knowledge mobilisation is understood, enacted, and strengthened within rapid evaluation settings

Data analytics: Using quantitative data in rapid evaluations: exploring access, analyses and data quality

Quantitative data can be a crucial element of rapid evaluation. In this session we will learn from each other about the data and analyses we have used across rapid evaluations of service delivery. We will consider the common challenges, including access and feasibility, thinking about approaches that may overcome some of these. Data analyses and quality will also be discussed. This will be an informal session, with a focus on sharing experiences and insights, and exploring the potential for future work.

Who is this session aimed at?

Those from rapid service evaluation teams who have been involved in accessing and using quantitative data as part of their evaluations or those who would like to find out more about this.

What are session objectives?

1. To get to know members of other teams;
2. To find out about projects teams have undertaken and how quantitative data have been used in these;
3. To discuss challenges, but with a solution focused lens. Exploring what approaches have been taken to support data use in rapid research;
4. To consider ways that we can work together in the future.

Who is delivering this session?

Chris Sherlaw-Johnson is a Senior Fellow at the Nuffield Trust and has a background that includes the Civil Service, academia and health and social care regulation. His main areas of expertise are in outcomes monitoring and the use of quantitative methods to support and evaluate health services. He has a particular interest in how to deliver effective quantitative approaches within rapid evaluations. He has led or supported many rapid and non-rapid evaluations of national and local programmes and innovations within a range of settings including primary and secondary healthcare, social care and prisons.

Professor Jo Dumville is Professor of Applied Health Research at the University of Manchester. She Co-Directs the NIHR funded Rapid Service Evaluation Team REVAL. Jo’s broad research interests are in epidemiology, evidence-synthesis and evaluation. Her research and evaluation activities include quantifying clinical problems and current treatment patterns through epidemiological work; undertaking relevant evidence synthesis, and conducting randomised controlled trials, cohort studies and other applied health research where further research is warranted. Jo is also a co- theme lead of the evaluation theme in the next NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester.

Session format

Using smaller and whole group discuss (depending on numbers) we will collate experiences on the following topics across the Rapid Evaluations Teams.

• How teams have decided on the questions to explore with quantitative data within rapid evaluation projects;
• The types of data that have been used to address these questions, and who owns these data;
• The skills needed to work with these data;
• Challenges with accessing and using data;
• Solutions that have resolved challenges;
• How quantitative and qualitative data have been used together;
• How teams have dealt with situations where there are no observational data from the intervention;
• Reflections on analyses produced;
• Ways of working across teams.

So please come ready to share information about evaluations you have been involved in, examples of the quantitative data that you have used; challenges you have experienced and the implications of this and any practical solutions that have you may have considered or implemented.

Deliverables

In addition to building links between teams, from this session we will collate insights and experience for use across the teams and perhaps more widely. Where opportunities for wider working e.g., on methodological development, are surfaced we will ensure next steps are considered and actioned.

Qualitative analysis: Rapid qualitative analyses: exploring approaches, challenges and potential solutions

Qualitative methodologies are widely employed within rapid evaluation. In this session we will explore the various approaches to qualitative analysis used across rapid evaluation teams, considering qualitative analysis approaches used across the project lifecycle, from initial scoping and data collection to data analysis and the reporting of findings.

Designed as an informal and interactive forum, the session will emphasise shared learning and reflective dialogue, with particular attention to the methodological challenges and tensions inherent in conducting rapid qualitative analysis.

Who is this session aimed at?

This session is aimed at individuals working within rapid evaluation teams who have an interest in, or responsibility for, qualitative methodological approaches.

What are session objectives?

1. To facilitate introductions and strengthen connections across teams.
2. To provide an opportunity for participants to share learning from projects they have undertaken and the qualitative analysis approaches applied.
3. To explore common challenges encountered in rapid qualitative analysis and to discuss strategies for addressing or mitigating them.

Who is delivering this session?

Holly Walton is a Senior Research Fellow at University College London and a member of the Rapid Service Evaluation Team. She is a qualitative researcher with experience of leading and conducting rapid and non-rapid studies for a wide range of conditions. Holly’s research primarily focuses on implementation of health and social care services, staff and patient experience. Holly is currently working on two rapid evaluations: evaluation of the Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocates (co-lead), and evaluation of artificial intelligence in chest diagnostics (researcher).

Nikki Newhouse is a qualitative researcher and tutor at the University of Oxford and a member of the DECIDE rapid evaluation centre. She has experience of leading and conducting rapid and longitudinal qualitative studies across a wide range of contexts and health conditions, working closely for a number of years alongside clinical trial teams exploring the implementation of complex digital health interventions. Nikki has a background in human computer interaction and has recently led rapid evaluations of tech-enabled remote monitoring in the NHS COPD care pathway, and the implementation of the NHS Managing Heart Failure @home programme.

Jennifer Newbould is a Senior Research Leader at RAND Europe. She is on the Executive of BRACE and is BRACE PPIE Co-Lead. She is a qualitative researcher with experience in rapid and longer studies. Jenny’s interests include primary care, chronic conditions and rare diseases. She is currently co-leading the Drug Strategy Investment in Treatment And Recovery (D-SITAR) Evaluation.

Session format

The session will use a mixture of breakout discussion and presentations to cover:

• Different approaches to the rapid analysis of qualitative data
• Examples from three rapid evaluation groups
• Benefits and challenges of rapid qualitative analysis
• Discussion of the use, potential benefits and challenges of using RAP / summary sheets
• The trade-offs inherent within rapid qualitative approaches and how we might overcome them

Deliverables

In addition to building links and sharing learning between teams, from this session we will collate a list of ‘top tips and tricks’ for supporting rapid qualitative analysis.

Inclusive research: The logic of inclusion

Rapid evaluations are responsive to evidence needs of policymakers, commissioners, and health and social care professionals supporting design and delivery of high quality and equitable provision. To meaningfully explore equity, rapid evaluations must be grounded in inclusive research principles and robust patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE). Without this, evaluations risk unintentionally excluding the perspectives, priorities and lived experiences of underserved or marginalised groups, potentially reinforcing rather than reducing inequalities.

Who is this session aimed at?

Those involved in designing, conducting, or supporting rapid evaluations in health and social care, particularly researchers, PPIE leads, and those with responsibility for equity, diversity, and inclusion.

What are the session objectives?

1. To create a shared space for reflection on the value and challenges of inclusion and PPIE in rapid evaluations
2. To explore tensions, constraints, and trade-offs encountered in real-world rapid evaluation contexts
3. To collaboratively develop a shared logic model for inclusion and PPIE across rapid evaluation stages
4. To inform the development of a practical, collectively owned resource for inclusive rapid evaluation practice

Who is delivering this session?

Stephanie Gillibrand is a Research Fellow in the REVAL rapid evaluation team based at the University of Manchester. Stephanie is a qualitative and mixed-methods research with a focus on health inequalities, access to and experiences of healthcare services for marginalised and under-served groups; experiences of marginalisation and social inequalities.  

Cath Larkins is Professor of Childhood Studies, innovating in participatory research and practice with children, young people, and their allies, across the UK and Europe. With communities facing marginalisation, she co-creates guidance and participatory processes to promote meaningful collaboration, particularly in public decision-making. Her scholarship advances theories and methodologies for understanding and strengthening inclusive participation, citizenship and social care and has led to impact on policy and practice nationally and internationally. Cath is Co-Director of University of Lancashire Centre for Children and Young People's Participation, Co-Director of the NIHR Social Care Rapid Evaluation Team (SOCRATES), and Advisor to the EU (DG Just, Fundamental Rights Agency), Council of Europe Children's Rights Directorate and UK Department for Culture Media and Sport. 

Pei Li Ng is the PPIE Co-Lead and Senior Programme Manager for the NIHR-funded Rapid Service Evaluation Team (RSET). She drives inclusive research, co-leads the Community of Practice for PPIE in rapid evaluations, and brings operational leadership in research delivery. She is passionate about embedding meaningful involvement in health research and service improvement. 

Jenny Shand is Professor of Applied Health Research at UCL. She directs the NIHR Rapid Service Evaluation Team (RSET), leading national evaluations of digital technologies including Ambient Voice Technology, AI in chest X-rays for lung cancer diagnostics, and innovations in maternity services. Her portfolio includes major programmes on adolescent mental health, including scaling evidence-based interventions in schools, building models for prevention and improving access to trusted digital content for young people. She is inequalities and data lead for the NIHR Policy Research Unit for Reproductive Health, and co-PI of the Sprocket innovation hub, working to reduce inequalities in access to care and education for children with complex needs. Across her portfolio, Jenny specialises in rapid, real-world evaluation of health service innovations and in accelerating high-quality evidence into practice. She is a Non-Executive Director at Care City, Strategy Advisor to Harley Street Health District and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. 

Sophie Spitters is a Research Fellow in the BRACE Rapid Evaluation team based at the University of Birmingham. In her research, she explores the co-creation, implementation and evaluation of innovations aimed at improving people’s health, care, and wellbeing – with particular interests in health inequalities, quality improvement, digital innovations, and integrated care. Sophie is BRACE lead for equality, diversity and inclusion. 

Session format

This two-part, interactive workshop combines short provocations from the session leads with guided small-group discussions.

Workshop 1 Morning invites participants to reflect on their practice and the value of inclusion and PPIE in rapid evaluations. This discussion will initiate the co-creation of a logic model for inclusion in rapid evaluations. Working in pairs, participants will identify the building blocks and strategies that support inclusive and PPIE-informed approaches, considering themes such as cultural competence, relational trust, representation, accessibility, digital versus face-to-face affordances, researcher reflexivity, and ethical practice. Participants will feedback their insights to create a shared logic model and share their experiences pursing inclusive and PPIE-led rapid evaluation to explore if and how the model addresses successes, real-world tensions, constraints and trade-offs. 

Workshop 2 Afternoon will refine the logic model and translate it into a practical shared resource to support inclusion and PPIE across rapid evaluation stages. Participants will review and update the model, and then prioritise and map its concepts, tools, and strategies onto the key stages of rapid evaluation - scoping, data collection, analysis, dissemination, and ongoing learning.

Deliverables

The session will culminate in a prototype framework and resource set to guide future inclusive, equitable, and PPIE-informed rapid evaluations. The session will close with a forward-looking discussion to inform next steps. 

Knowledge mobilisation: How do rapid evaluation centres interpret and enact effective knowledge mobilisation?

Knowledge mobilisation (KM) is a well-established component of applied health and social care research, yet rapid evaluations create distinctive pressures and opportunities for how evidence is generated, shared, and used. Compressed timelines, evolving policy questions, and the need for simultaneous engagement and analysis mean that KM in rapid evaluation settings often differs from more traditional approaches. This session explores how rapid evaluation centres currently interpret and enact KM, and what makes KM distinctive in rapid evaluation contexts.

Through structured reflection and collaborative discussion, the session aims to build a shared understanding of how KM is approached across rapid evaluations, what has worked well in practice, and what challenges teams encounter when seeking to ensure evidence is timely, relevant, and taken up by intended audiences.

Who is this session aimed at?

Those involved in designing, delivering, or supporting rapid evaluations in health and social care, including researchers, evaluation leads, and those with responsibility for implementation, engagement, and knowledge mobilisation.

What are the session objectives?

• To explore how KM is currently understood and enacted within rapid evaluation settings
• To identify what is distinctive about KM in rapid evaluations compared to other applied research contexts
• To surface practical experiences of what has worked well and what has been challenging in mobilising evidence
• To identify enablers, gaps, and priorities for strengthening KM in rapid evaluation teams

 Who is delivering this session?

Juliette Malley is an Associate Professorial Research Fellow and a Senior Fellow of the NIHR School for Social Care Research. She co-directs the NIHR-funded Social Care Rapid Evaluation Team (SOCRATES) and is Deputy Director (Social Care) for the Policy Research Unit in Policy Innovation and Evaluation (PIRU), leading the Social Care team and the innovation theme. Juliette’s research explores processes of change and contemporary developments in social care policy and practice, often evaluating the consequences of changes to inform decision-making by policymakers and social care organisations. 

 Paul Wilson is Professor of Implementation Science at the University of Manchester. He is Implementation Science theme lead for NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester and Co-Director of the NIHR Rapid Service Evaluation Team – REVAL. Paul's research interests are focused on implementation science, evaluation of large-scale health service change and national policy implementation. 

Judith Smith is Professor of Health Policy and Management in the Health Services Management Centre at the University of Birmingham. She is Co-Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded Birmingham, RAND Europe and Cambridge (BRACE) rapid evaluation centre, Trustee and Chair of Health Services Research UK, the membership organisation for health services researchers across the four nations of the UK, and Director of Health Services Research with Birmingham Health Partners, the alliance which brings together NHS organisations in Birmingham with the Universities of Birmingham and Aston to drive high-impact research and innovation. Judith’s research interests include: the organisation and management of primary care; long-term conditions and integrated care; health purchasing and commissioning; evaluation of health care organisation and service delivery; and health care management and governance.

Session format

This two-part interactive workshop combines short inputs with facilitated small-group work and collective synthesis.

Session 1 morning focuses on understanding what is distinctive about KM in rapid evaluation. Following an orientation to KM principles, including NIHR’s framing and insights from recent literature, participants will work in small groups to reflect on a specific rapid evaluation they have been involved in. Discussions will focus on how evidence was mobilised, intended audiences, activities undertaken at different stages, what worked well, what was challenging, and what was distinctive about the rapid evaluation context. Group insights will be shared in plenary and thematised to generate an initial set of characteristics, challenges, and enablers of KM in rapid evaluation.

Session 2 afternoon builds on these themes and shifts attention from current practice to what teams need in order to mobilise evidence effectively. Participants will work across three areas: supporting and developing individuals and teams; working with partners within and beyond rapid evaluation teams; and using social media and emerging technologies alongside established approaches. Group discussions will refine and expand the themes from Session 1, with a focus on identifying priorities, gaps, and elements of good practice.

Deliverables

The session will conclude by confirming shared themes and key learning across both workshops. These will inform the development of follow-on outputs, including papers and a good practice guide, capturing collective insights on how knowledge mobilisation is understood, enacted, and strengthened within rapid evaluation settings

Data analytics: How can rapid economic assessments become more embedded in our evaluations?

Who is this session aimed at?

Those from rapid service evaluation teams who have experience of and/or interest in economic assessment in rapid evaluations.

What are session objectives?

1. To form a community of rapid evaluation economists and consider how best to work together in the future
2. To share experiences, learning and proposals
3. To identify ways forward to enable more/better economic assessment within rapid evaluations

Who is delivering this session?

Jon Sussex is the RAND Europe and health economics lead for BRACE. He has over 35 years of health services research and consultancy experience. He joined RAND Europe in 2015 as its Chief Economist and as Co-Director of the Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research, a long-standing collaboration between RAND Europe and the University of Cambridge. He has worked on many evaluations of health services and policy innovations in the NHS. These projects have used: literature reviews and syntheses; multi-criteria decision analyses; surveys, including discrete choice experiments; key informant interviews, focus groups and stakeholder workshops; modelling/simulation; and econometric analyses.

Professor Steve Morris is the RSET lead for health economics. He is RAND Professor of Health Services Research at the University of Cambridge, Co-Director of the Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research (CCHSR), Deputy Director of NIHR ARC East of England and Professorial Fellow in Health Services Research at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge. He is an experienced health economist, having completed his PhD in economics in 2002. He has participated in major committees at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the National Institute for Health and Care Research. Steve has authored over 280 research papers in peer-reviewed journals, the majority of which have been economic analyses, and a major health economics textbook. His research interests are primarily in the cost-effectiveness of interventions to improve health across a range of intervention types, disease areas and population groups, and the determinants of health service use. He also has expertise in discrete choice experiments and econometric analyses of large datasets.

Session format

Pre-read will be circulated: short slide set developed by Steve “Evaluating productivity from a rapid evaluation perspective”.

Rapid evaluation team economists are invited to share in turn their experiences of including economic analysis within rapid evaluation – successes, failures, dos and don’ts – and their thoughts on “How can rapid economic assessments become more embedded in our evaluations?”

Discussion will then focus on:

1. seeking a consensus on practical steps to better achieve that. This may include initial thoughts for developing a checklist; and
2. scope for continued working as a community of interest in economic assessment within rapid evaluation.

Deliverables

In addition to building links between teams, from this session we intend to identify and subsequently collectively disseminate practical steps for better economic assessment within rapid evaluations.

Qualitative analysis: What role can AI play in rapid qualitative analysis?

As rapid evaluation teams working in health and social care, we face increasing pressure to produce robust qualitative insights within constrained timelines. Recent advances in generative AI have introduced new tools that promise to support key analytic tasks yet many of us are approaching these tools cautiously: their capabilities are uneven, their limitations not well understood, and their implications for rigour, ethics and researcher responsibility remain unsettled. This informal, interactive session invites colleagues to share experiences of incorporating (or deliberately not incorporating) AI into qualitative analysis workflows.

Who is this session aimed at?

Those working with qualitative data in the context of rapid evaluation.

What are the session objectives?

1. To get to know members of other teams
2. To find out what kind of AI-supported analysis teams have undertaken
3. To explore emerging questions, risks and possibilities rather than learn practical AI techniques
4. To identify shared priorities and concerns to inform future collaborative work on AI in qualitative research

Who is delivering this session?

Dr Nikki Newhouse is a qualitative researcher and tutor at the University of Oxford and a member of the DECIDE rapid evaluation centre. She has experience of leading and conducting rapid and longitudinal qualitative studies across a range of contexts and health conditions, working closely for a number of years alongside clinical trial teams exploring the implementation of complex digital health interventions. Nikki has a background in human computer interaction and recently led rapid evaluations of tech-enabled remote monitoring in the NHS COPD care pathway, and the implementation of the NHS Managing Heart Failure @home programme.

Saoirse Moriarty Moriarty is a mixed methods researcher with a focus on health inequalities. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Social Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London and working as a research fellow at RAND Europe. She is part of the DECIDE research centre, where she has worked on rapid evaluations of digital health interventions. Whilst at RAND she was part of the AI working group, exploring the application of LLMs in qualitative research.

Dr Angus Ramsay is a mixed methods researcher with a focus on factors influencing implementation and impact of innovations in healthcare, and expertise in knowledge mobilisation. He is a Principal Research Fellow at UCL and Deputy Director of NIHR RSET. Through his work at RSET, he has led two high impact rapid mixed method evaluations, focusing on prehospital video triage for suspected stroke and implementation, experiences, and impact of AI for chest diagnostics.

Session format

Through short provocations from session leads and guided small-group discussions, we will explore:

• The potential benefits and risks of using AI in rapid qualitative work
• Whether, and in what ways, AI might genuinely support early sense-making and analysis
• How researchers retain interpretive authority and ensure transparency when AI is part of the analytic process
• Key skills and knowledge gaps and strategies for addressing these.

Rather than offering a set of recommendations, the session is designed as a reflective, collegial space to map the emerging landscape. Participants will consider boundary-setting, documentation, and the importance of maintaining contextual sensitivity.

Deliverables

We will close by identifying shared priorities and potential outputs, including: (i) a collaborative abstract for an HSRUK workshop; (ii) a short editorial or reflective blog setting out collective questions and early practice principles. The aim is to develop a realistic, grounded picture of where AI might add value, where it might distract or mislead, and what a responsible future for AI-supported rapid qualitative analysis could look like. 

University Station is a ten-minute walk from the hotel, and a two-minute walk from the centre of University of Birmingham’s campus.

The easiest way to get to us is to walk past the University’s Main Library and Teaching and Learning Building (Ring Road North), up the hill towards North Gate on Pritchatts Road. Turn right and cross at the pedestrian crossing – the University’s iconic clocktower should be behind you.

Continue walking on Pritchatts Road until you see the entrance of the multi-storey North East Car Park. Turn left here and walk past the Centre for Human Brain Health (CHBH). Edgbaston Park Hotel will be on your left.

There are taxi ranks at Birmingham New Street Station (Grand Central) and throughout the city centre. Hail a cab or use the Uber and Ola apps.

The journey to the hotel from the city centre takes around 15 minutes, depending on traffic.

The hotel’s postcode is B15 2RS.

If you’re approaching from the M6, leave at Junction 6 (signposted Birmingham Central) to join the A38 (M). Continue on the A48, then take the B4127. Turn left onto Wheeley’s Lane then continue straight until you reach the hotel (on your right).

Approaching from M42 north? Leave at Junction 8 to join the M6 northbound and follow the instructions above. If you’re approaching from the southwest, leave the M5 at Junction 4 (signposted Birmingham SW) to join the A38. And, if you’re approaching from the M40, head west on the M42 from Junction 3A. At Junction 3 take the A435 exit (Birmingham South).

When you arrive, you’ll find complimentary parking right outside the hotel, including Blue Badge-only bays. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If no spaces are available, you can also park for free on the ground floor of the University’s multi-storey North East Car Park (a two-minute walk from the hotel).

To claim your free parking, make sure to enter your car registration details into the system at reception upon arrival. If you don’t do this, you may be fined

As part of our commitment to sustainable travel, we’re proud to offer excellent facilities for guests arriving by bike.

• Secure bike racks available on-site
• Bike repair station for quick fixes and maintenance
• Explore low-traffic cycling routes which are ideal for a safer, more relaxed ride