Exploring researcher experiences of UK research funding: a survey study

Abstract

Background: bureaucracy in research has been identified as a concern. However, it is unclear which activities take disproportionate time and effort, and do not add value to research. The aim of this study was to explore the researchers’ experiences of processes, effort and burden involved in applying for funding and fulfilling reporting requirements for UK health and/or social care research funding.

Method: an online survey (active August to November 2021) collected quantitative and qualitative information from researchers about the processes and activities involved in applying for funding, and fulfilling reporting requirements, to UK funders of health research between January 2018 to July 2021, and the associated effort and burden experienced when completing these processes.

Results: data were analysed from 183 responses. The majority of respondents (58%) completed between 7 and 13 key steps to submit an application and 70% of respondents felt that it was critically important to undertake these steps. Respondents reported submitting an average of 17 reports for their research projects, with funders requiring the most reports. More respondents reported seeking support and information to help with applications (85%) compared to reports (43%). Thematic analysis identified that the application process often takes up disproportionate time and encroaches on non-work hours. Respondents felt that both higher education institutions and funder processes could be streamlined, and themes around transparency and communication demonstrated the need for clearer expectations from organisations about what information was needed for applications and reports and why.

Conclusions: some processes associated with research funding and reporting were perceived as effortful but necessary, especially when the value added was clear. However, other processes were considered disproportionate, complex and repetitive, increasing, and wasting, time and effort in already busy work schedules and impacting on researcher wellbeing. Recommendations to increase efficiency and enhance value in these processes and activities were identified.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Ksenia Crane: orcid.org/0000-0002-8471-2165

ORCID for Alejandra Recio Saucedo: orcid.org/0000-0003-2823-4573

ORCID for Amanda Blatch-Jones: orcid.org/0000-0002-1486-5561

ORCID for Katie Meadmore: orcid.org/0000-0001-5378-8370

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