Case study – DE&I – Ofcom
Establishing better practice with Ofcom
The Office of Communications (Ofcom) and the Communications Consumer Panel recognised that research too often fails to fully represent the experiences of disabled people and those living with long-term conditions. With 40% of the UK population recognised as having a disability, this was not a niche consideration. It was a systemic gap that needed to be addressed.
The challenge: Building an evidence base for genuine inclusion
Existing research practice lacked clear, consistent guidance on how to meaningfully include disabled people, from the language used in reporting to how research is designed and delivered. Ofcom needed a rigorous, evidence-based framework that commissioners, agencies and researchers could actually use.
What we did: We went to the people who knew the landscape best
We conducted a literature review with discourse analysis to examine how language was being used when reporting on disabled people. We then carried out 40 expert interviews with stakeholders from across the charity, government and research sectors, followed by a workshop bringing 21 of those stakeholders together to interrogate and refine what had emerged.
What we found: Clear, consistent guidance was within reach
The research identified practical, actionable steps to make research more inclusive at every stage, from initial design and recruitment through to analysis and reporting. Language emerged as a particularly important area, with significant inconsistency in how disabled people were being represented across research outputs.
The impact: A report and toolkit for the whole industry
Magenta produced a comprehensive report that provides clear guidance for commissioners, agencies and anyone involved in research, alongside a one-page practical toolkit. The work set a new benchmark for inclusive research practice across the industry.
If you would like us to deliver a lunch-and-learn session for your team, or want to find out more about our three-step approach to inclusive research, let’s talk.