Research opportunities

We are often contacted by researchers wishing to talk to adopted people and adopters as part of their research. Below are some current opportunities. Please note that Adoption UK does not have any involvement in these projects. Whilst we will only ever share details of research with full ethical approval, we are in no way endorsing the research, or the work of the researcher. We always advise that you read all the information provided and talk to the researcher before deciding whether to get involved.

Adopters

Priorities for research in adoption

Researchers at Manchester University are seeking the views of adoptees, friends and family members of adoptees (including adoptive parents) and professionals with adoption expertise to help to decide future priorities for research in adoption. Take part in the survey by scanning the QR code in the image below.

School Attendance (Greater Manchester area only)

Researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University would like to connect with parents/carers whose children are experiencing school attendance difficulties. See the poster below for details.

The Big Future - Children's Commissioner's Survey

The Children's Commissioner's third national survey of children and young people (aged up to 18) will be open until October 2026. It asks children their views on a range of issues including what worries them, what they love, the ways they have fun and the changes they want to see for a better future. While many schools will provide opportunities for children to complete the survey, it is important to ensure that adopted young people, including those educated outside of school have the opportunity to respond if they wish to. The survey can be found using the QR code in the image below, or on the Children's Commissioner's website.

Family Beyond the Binary

Researchers at UCL and Gendered Intelligence are carrying out a study into family experiences of non-binary people in the UK for the 'Family Beyond the Binary' project. They are particularly hoping to hear from people who are non-binary, over 18, living in the UK are are parents, via an online survey which closes on 1/6/26.

Take part in the survey here

Experiences of 100 Years of Adoption

Eliza Kiel, a doctor at St Thomas' Hospital, is hoping to write a piece for submission to the Archives of Disease in Childhood which explores people's experiences of adoption and how they have changed over the past century.

She would like to hear from adoptees, adopters and professionals involved in the adoption process at any point in the past century, either through interviews or by completing a written questionnaire.

For more information, please contact Eliza directly by email before 12/06/26 : [email protected]

Same-Sex Parent Families

A trainee clinical psychologist at the University of Southampton is looking for up to three people who are a gay man or lesbian woman, are in a same-sex relationship and have children they are raising or have raised in the UK, to help to design a research project exploring the experiences of same-sex parents with a particular focus on the concept of internalised homophobia. Participation would involve discussing the overall focus of the project, reviewing terminology and giving feedback on draft interview questions. A payment of £25 per hour will be offered and the researcher anticipates involvement will be approximately 1 or 2 hours over two meetings. Please contact Mark Griffiths for more information.

Adopted people

Priorities for research in adoption

Experiences of 100 Years of Adoption

She would like to hear from adoptees, adopters and professionals involved in the adoption process at any point in the past century, either through interviews or by completing a written questionnaire.

For more information, please contact Eliza directly by email before 12/06/26 : [email protected]

Adoptee Quality of Life Survey

Nick Burke, of the University of Sheffield, has been working with a focus group of birth parents, adoptees and adoptive parents to devise a measure of ‘quality of life’ for adoptees aged 16-25 in England. The next step in the project is field testing the preliminary ‘quality of life’ measure. Nick is hoping to recruit adoptees aged 16-25 from across England to complete the questionnaire. The project is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care via the National Institute of Health and Care Research. Ethical approval (via the Health Research Authority) and research governance (via the University of Sheffield) are in place.

Complete the questionnaire.

Social Work Professionals

Priorities for research in adoption

Race, Embodiment and Life Transitions among Adult Transracial Adoptees in the UK

PhD researcher, Kriti Khurana, is exploring practitioners' perspectives on how race is considered, discussed and navigated in adoption practice. Participants will be invited to take part in a confidential interview.