Children and Young People's Participation and Non-Participation in Research

Abstract

Cathy Murray considers the involvement of children and young people in research in the field of adoption and fostering in the UK, based on a review in 2004 of the Quality Protects bibliographic database1. The database comprises details of 182 research studies conducted since 1991, of which 72 were categorised as relevant to adoption and fostering. Of these, 38 (53 per cent) involved children and young people in the process. Three aspects of participation and non-participation in research are considered. First, researchers' reasons for involving children and young people are outlined. Secondly, the role of gatekeepers is examined. When embarking on the review, it had been anticipated that ethical and methodological concerns would be the key challenges to involving children and young people in research. However, gatekeepers emerged from the research outputs as equally significant. It is argued that while gatekeeping is played out in specific research projects as an apparently individualised response, it reflects the pervasiveness of a protectionist model of children and young people over a citizen-with-rights model. Thirdly, the strategies that researchers employed to increase the likelihood of children and young people's participation are reported.

Listening to Children in Care: A Review of Methodological and Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Looked after Children’s Perspectives

“…The focus of the article is on methodological and theoretical approaches to uncovering children and young people's views and experiences, rather than on substantive findings. The work follows on from that of Murray (2005) who reviewed children in substitute care's participation in UK research studies conducted since 1991 on the Quality Protects database. The current review covers more recent work, concentrating on published journal articles since 2003 and includes international studies.…”

‘I know how I feel’

“…In addition, there are complex and much debated tensions surrounding children's' right to participate versus associated responsibilities, and for adults, there are potential tensions reconciling children's right to participate with their right to protection. This is particularly pronounced for practitioners with a 'duty of care' (Cousins and Milner, 2008;Murray, 2005).Within these tensions, there are also issues of power, not only general child versus adult inequalities but also how power is perceived. If power is viewed as 'zero sum' and either/or, this may hamper participation with adults fearing increased participation for children as a potential challenge to and reduction of their own power (Davis and Hill, 2006;Hill et al, 2004;Prout and Tisdall, 2006).…”

Peer Led Focus Groups and Young People

“…Reflecting the above social, legislative and academic trends, young people have increasingly participated in research (Murray, 2005;Hallett and Prout, 2003;Christensen and James, 2000). This involvement was first celebrated for giving young people any voice at all, as previously their views and experiences had almost invariably been mediated through adults.…”