4 Inclusion
Inclusion encompasses norms, practices, and intentional actions to promote participation, engagement, empowerment, and a sense of belonging for members of historically underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.[1]
- While diversity may focus on the quantitative representation, inclusion focuses on the qualitative experience of belonging.
- Inclusion requires proactive measures to transform cultures and relations of power and privilege that may result in the social exclusion and underrepresentation of EDGs.
- It means removing barriers in leadership, learning, research, and community engagement so everyone can fully participate
Examples of Inclusion in Research Design
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- Co-developing relational research governance frameworks where democratic and egalitarian values can be enacted. E.g. Embedding Indigenous circle governance and pluralism principles into project decision-making ensures that diverse voices—especially those historically excluded—actively inform research priorities, knowledge generation, and outcomes.
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Did you know? University of Calgary’s Inclusive Governance Project (2022) reimagined faculty governance through a pluralism framework that centers trust, dialogue, and shared understanding. Led by Indigenous Nations and civil society organizations, the project creates relational spaces where differences are valued as assets for collective problem-solving. By embracing parallel paths for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, it fosters inclusive, deliberative, and community-driven research and innovation.
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- Embedding intersectionality in study design. Instead of treating identity categories (e.g., gender, race, disability) as separate variables, intersectional design explores how overlapping social positions shape experiences and outcomes.
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Did you know? Intersectional approaches in public health research have revealed compounding barriers in access to care for Indigenous women and racialized LGBTQ2S+ communities (Bowleg, 2012).
- Reference: Bowleg, L. (2012). The problem with the phrase women and minorities: Intersectionality—an important theoretical framework for public health. American Journal of Public Health, 102(7), 1267–1273. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2012.300750
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- Engaging with Indigenous epistemologies from the start of the research design — research frameworks can integrate both written and oral Indigenous knowledge systems to shape questions, methods, and outcomes from the outset. This approach strengthens relevance, trust, and community ownership.
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Did you know? In a University of British Columbia study on statistical modelling of seal movement, Indigenous hunters’ ecological knowledge was incorporated into Bayesian models, enhancing both accuracy and cultural relevance of the research.
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Incorporating participatory and community-led research frameworks.
Inclusion in research design means embedding community leadership and participation from the very beginning—co-developing questions, shaping methods, guiding data interpretation, and sharing ownership of results.
- Did you know? Participatory frameworks, such as Community-based participatory research (CBPR), have led to stronger health outcomes, increased trust, and more sustainable interventions in underserved communities.
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Reference: Salihu, D., et al. (2024). Community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches in community health interventions: a scoping review. International Journal for Equity in Health, 23(131).
https://equityhealthj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12939-024-02278-1
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- Did you know? Participatory frameworks, such as Community-based participatory research (CBPR), have led to stronger health outcomes, increased trust, and more sustainable interventions in underserved communities.
Examples of Inclusion in Research Practice
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- Promoting the use of preferred gender pronouns. Creating an inclusive research environment means normalizing the use of self-identified pronouns in meetings, emails, Zoom names, and publications.
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Did you know? Misgendering can lead to exclusion and harm; respecting pronouns affirms identity and builds trust in academic spaces.
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Reference: Álvarez, B. (2022, October 5). Why pronouns matter. National Education Association. https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/why-pronouns-matter
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- Committing to proper pronunciation of names. Taking time to learn and correctly pronounce people’s names communicates respect and belonging, helping to counter the marginalization often experienced by racialized individuals.
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Did you know? Research shows that name mispronunciation can negatively affect students’ sense of belonging and participation in academic spaces.
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Reference: Lander, V., & Santoro, N. (2024). The pronunciation of students’ names in higher education: Identity work and belonging. Journal of Education Policy https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2024.2331158
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- Encouraging and facilitating resources for IDEA-related learning. Supporting a culture of inclusion involves sharing opportunities for learning (e.g., workshops, micro-modules, guest lectures, reading groups) that enhance equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility literacy within research teams.
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Did you know?
Access to structured EDI training improves team climate, enhances research integrity, and leads to more equitable research practices
- Reference: Dewidar, O., Elmestekawy, N., & Welch, V. (2022). Improving equity, diversity, and inclusion in academia. Research Integrity and Peer Review, 7 (4). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41073-022-00123-z
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- Offering flexible arrangements to support caregiving or community responsibilities. Inclusion means recognizing that team members may face added pressures due to caregiving, religious observances, or major geopolitical events and responding with flexibility (e.g., adjusted deadlines, meeting times, or hybrid options).
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Did you know? Caregiving responsibilities and crises disproportionately affect women, racialized groups, and international trainees, increasing the risk of attrition from research careers.
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