‘How come I don’t get asked no questions?’ Researching ‘hard to reach’ children and teenagers

Abstract

Researching 'hard to reach' children and teenagers K Curtis et al .

Eliciting rich dialogue through the use of activity-oriented interviews

“…It is clear that in the present study, the use of activity-oriented interviews resulted in a greater amount of dialogue from participants than standard interviews. This is important in itself; for a participant group commonly described as 'hard to reach' (Curtis et al, 2004), facilitating dialogue and selfexpression is a valued outcome. However, in order for the novel method to be truly efficacious, it should afford insights into the perceptions and experiences of participants not gained through traditional techniques.…”

Understanding the Ethical Requirement for Parental Consent When Engaging Youth in Research

“…It has been suggested that the use of online questionnaires may circumvent issues of consent and improve access to potential research participants (Curtis, 2004). However, this is not in keeping with ethical guidance that has provided direction on the issue.…”

Understanding Sampling and Recruitment in Social Work Dissertation Research

“…While it is possible that for many no additional resources were needed, it could also be that respondents assumed that challenges did not stem from structural factors or from methodological issues, but from their own individual deficits, such as a lack of preparation, understanding of recruitment strategies, or skill in networking with gatekeepers. Internalizing challenges are more likely to occur in environments in which research problems are addressed quietly and not commonly discussed publicly (Curtis, Roberts, Copperman, Downie, & Liabo, 2004). New researchers may assume others do not have these experiences, remain silent in their own struggles, and internalize their challenges.…”