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SUMMARY:Doing your own patient activist research - Robin McKenna (Universi
 ty of Liverpool)
DTSTART:20250508T143000Z
DTEND:20250508T160000Z
UID:TALK230221@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr. Rosanna Dent
DESCRIPTION:The slogan 'Do Your Own Research' (DYOR) is often invoked by p
 eople who are distrustful\, even downright sceptical\, of recognized exper
 t authorities. While this slogan may serve various rhetorical purposes\, i
 t also expresses an ethic of inquiry that valorises independent thinking a
 nd rejects uncritical deference to recognized experts. This paper is a qua
 lified defence of this ethic of inquiry in one of the central contexts in 
 which it might seem attractive. I use several case studies of patient acti
 vist groups to argue that these groups often engage in valuable independen
 t research that advances biomedical knowledge. In doing so they demonstrat
 e the value of 'lay expertise' and the epistemic as well as political nece
 ssity of not simply deferring to recognized experts. I also give some reas
 ons why patient activist groups often produce valuable biomedical knowledg
 e: they are examples of what I call 'research collectives'. Research colle
 ctives are research communities that differ from the traditional research 
 communities we find in universities and research institutes in that their 
 members typically lack formal relevant scientific credentials and training
 . But they are similar in that they have internal structures – training 
 procedures\, norms of discussion\, venues for holding discussions – that
  facilitate the production of knowledge. I finish by suggesting that futur
 e research into the differences and similarities between research collecti
 ves and traditional research communities is required.
LOCATION:Hopkinson Lecture Theatre\, New Museums Site
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