For students interested in giving feedback
Are you a student interested in improving our digital products and services and being rewarded for your input? Sign up for the Bodleian Student Panel to participate in user research. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us enhance the user experience and develop innovative solutions. By joining the panel, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to a variety of projects and make a real impact on the services you use.
For staff working on digital products and services
Are you a member of staff working on digital products and services and need student feedback on your projects?
If so, please get in touch and we can talk you through the process of creating and delivering a research plan. We can also go through the terms of engagement to ensure student contributions lead to meaningful change.
If you are part of the Bodleian Libraries or College Library community, please reach out to Frankie Wilson at frankie.wilson@bodleian.ox.ac.uk directly.
Terms of engagement for engaging students in research
Purpose
These terms of reference establish the expectations for teams engaging students in research activities. They ensure that student contributions are valued, outputs are actioned, and accessibility is integrated from the beginning.
Principles
All teams engaging students for research must commit to the following principles:
- Commitment to action – Ensure research findings lead to tangible improvements
- Inclusive design – Integrate accessibility from project inception, not as an afterthought
- Student experience – Prioritise student engagement, clarity, and meaningful participation
- Transparency – Maintain clear communication and close the feedback loop with participants
Purpose and intended use of research
- Teams must define clear objectives for their student research activities
- Findings should inform decision-making and not be collected without intent to act
- A summary of how insights will be used must be provided at the outset
Closing the Feedback Loop
- Teams must share a summary of key findings with participants
- Actions taken as a result of the research should be communicated where possible
- If no action is taken, a rationale must be provided to maintain transparency and trust
Accessibility Considerations
- Projects must consider accessibility from the start, ensuring that:
- Research activities accommodate students with diverse needs
- Digital products and services being tested meet accessibility standards
- Feedback explicitly includes input on accessibility
- Teams should consult relevant accessibility specialists where necessary
Incentives and fair participation
- Students must be compensated fairly in line with university guidelines
- Participation must be voluntary, with clear opt-in/opt-out options
- Research activities should be inclusive, ensuring representation across different student groups
Ethical Considerations
- Student participation must align with university ethical research standards
- Data privacy and confidentiality must be maintained
- Research should avoid tokenism; students must be engaged meaningfully
Governance and Accountability
- Teams engaging students must sign an agreement to adhere to these terms
- A designated contact person should oversee student engagement and ensure commitments are met
- The BLSP/UX Centre of Excellence may conduct periodic reviews to ensure adherence and provide guidance where needed
Acknowledgment
By engaging students for research, teams agree to uphold these terms, ensuring student contributions lead to meaningful change and accessibility is embedded from the outset.
