Table 2 Drivers for promoting public engagement in research

Aligning public views with research agendas

Increasing the relevance of research

Benefiting patients

Inspiring children to consider science careers

Bringing together different perspectives

Legitimising research

Building in impact

Listening to the public

Delivering value for money

Maintaining a license to practice

Ensuring fair decision-making

Mandated in organisational mission

Facilitating rapid translation

Part of organisational culture

Gaining public approval

Participation is implicit in social sciences

Improving researchers’ skill-sets

Public input into the direction of science

Improving the public’s science literacy skills

Restoring the reputation of science

Improving the quality of research

Shifting research towards a problem-focus

Improving treatments

The accountability of taxpayers’ money

Increasing public support

The democratic imperative

Increasing patient choice

Transparency – keeping the public informed

Increasing public confidence in science