Observation Guide: Evaluating a Co-Creation Workshop

Observation Guide: Evaluating a Co-Creation Workshop. This observation guide facilitates the evaluation of a co-creation workshop. The observer is instructed to fill in this guide to evaluate each method based on the associated evaluation criteria (not all criteria apply to every method). This task should be carried out by an impartial observer present solely to document all interactions and complete this structured guide. Throughout the workshop, the observer's focus should be on reporting observed behaviours rather than interpreting them. Following each observation, the observer can formulate their conclusions and briefly summarize the events in the comments section. 

Employing a 'checklist' approach, this guide outlines specific elements for the observer to monitor during their observation. It enables swift recording of information concerning the facilitator and co-creators performance relative to the processes and outcomes of each method. The checklist format also includes space for concise comments, offering supplementary insights beyond the checklist items. Upon completion, the observer should total the checks per column to derive a performance score per method. Refer to Appendix 1 for instructions on calculating the overall performance score for the workshop.

The checklist is provided in a Microsoft Word or Microsoft Execl format. Please use whichever one you're most comfortable using. 

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With sincere thanks to the following people for testing this tool on co-creation workshops: Maria Lorentsen (Aarhus University, Denmark) and Janneke de Boer (Ghent University, Belgium). Their input and reflections were vital to completing this guide. We would also like to acknowledge the support of Danielle's supervisory team (Professor Seb Chastin and Professor Artur Steiner) during this research process, which informed the development of this guide. 

Please note: This guide is based on a one-year study investigating evaluation criteria for co-creation methods. The findings from this study will be detailed in an upcoming peer-reviewed article. Once the article is published, this guide will be updated to include the DOI reference for further context and citation.

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If you would like to see a completed example, or if you have any questions about the guide, please reach out to the lead researcher, Danielle Marie Agnello (danielle.agnello@gcu.ac.uk). Additionally, join the conversation and stay updated her research into co-creation, and methods used in co-creation, by following her on X: https://twitter.com/DannyAgnello_GH or LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellemagnello/ 

Co-Creation Resources: For additional support in utilizing these co-creation methods in a co-creation process, explore our Draft Evidence-based Co-Creation Guideline: PRODUCES+ at: https://zenodo.org/records/8379784. Additionally, engage with critical questions about method selection through my Methods Selector Infographic at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7414470. Looking for more methods, then take a look at the Method Inventory: https://www.i-jmr.org/2024/1/e59772.  For insights into how these methods align with co-creation characteristics, please refer to the pre-print manuscript on the Co-Creation Rainbow framework: https://zenodo.org/records/10391410. Finally, you can also conduct your study in the Health CASCADE Co-Creation Database: https://doi.org/10.2196/45059. Unlock the potential of co-creation and embark on a collaborative research journey with confidence, creativity, and innovation!