Researchers may embody diverse roles in the development and analysis of democratic innovations. Based on three Belgian case studies (the G1000, the Permanent Citizen Dialogue and the Deliberative Committees) and more specifically on the reflections of three researchers (the authors of the present paper) who embodied mixed roles in the development and analysis of these processes, this paper sheds light on the motivations behind this blurring of lines between the traditional position of researchers as analysts and their new roles as advocates, advisers, designers and organizers. It also analyzes the effects of this situation on the researchers' work, on the processes implemented and on the other actors involved in their development. Also, we will see how the diversification of roles does not only affect researchers but expands on all actors involved in the design and organization of deliberative processes, from policy-makers to practitioners. **Please do not cite without authors' permission**