Examples
Worked examples
- Is an instance
A homelessness research project employs lived-experience experts as paid peer researchers.
- Is an instance
A mental-health study cites named lived-experience advisors as co-authors of the paper.
Counter-examples
Looks similar, but isn't
- Not an instance
Inviting a service user as a one-off panel member without remuneration or ongoing role.
- Not an instance
Treating lived experience as anecdote rather than expertise in research dissemination.
Editorial commentary
Lived-experience experts (sometimes called 'experts by experience') contribute knowledge that cannot be derived from research training alone: experience of mental-health services, homelessness, disability, illness, discrimination, migration or other situations. In research they may serve as patient partners, peer researchers, community advisors, or co-investigators. The term originated in mental-health and social-work contexts but has spread to many fields. Best practice recognises lived experience as expertise (named role, compensation, training, decision-making influence), not as token representation.
References
- Beresford P 'Public participation in health and social care' Citizenship Studies 2002. SAMHSA recovery-oriented care framework.
Also known as
Expert by experience · Lived experience advisor
Machine-readable encodings
Use in your systems
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vocab-identifier="https://casrai.org/dictionary/"
vocab-term="Lived-experience expert"
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"description": "A person whose personal experience of a condition, situation or issue is recognised as a form of expertise that contributes meaningfully to research, policy or practice alongside professional and academic expertise.",
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],
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