Using participant observation in pediatric health care settings: ethical challenges and solutions

Carnevale, Franco A.; Macdonald, Mary Ellen; Bluebond-Langner, Myra; McKeever, Patricia

doi:10.1177/1367493507085616

Cited by 70 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…It is possible that at times children and health professionals could have altered their behaviour in my presence. However, in agreement with Carnevale et al (2008), I believe that my ad hoc coming and going, the busy noisy real life environment and the prolonged time spent on the children's ward in some way combated any sustainability in behaviour changes.…”

Section: Complete Observersupporting

confidence: 69%

Using a range of methods to access children's voices

Lambert

Glacken²,

McCarron

2013

Journal of Research in Nursing

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The purpose of this paper is to describe, and reflect upon, a number of methods deployed to facilitate sick children to have a voice within an acute health care setting. Using an ethnographic approach to investigate the nature of communication between children and health professionals, multiple modes of data collection were employed to engage children's interest, motivation and facilitate child empowerment in the process. The simultaneous use of semi-participant observations, informal interviews and participatory activities ensured that the diverse abilities, interests and preferences of children were acknowledged. Multiple data sources permitted the portrayal of a comprehensive picture which we believe enhanced the trustworthiness of the data. However, as with all data collection methods, researchers need to be critically aware of strengths and weaknesses and these will be reflected upon. Ultimately, it was crucial to use participatory activities in context and have continuous dialogue with the participating children. The goal was to achieve a balance between creative instruments and commonplace conversation. We believe the unstructured and flexible approach, and variety of data collection methods, utilised in our study enhanced its accuracy, truthfulness and reduced the subjectivity of children's responses. In sharing our experiences, we endeavour to assist other researchers in conducting research with children.

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Section: Complete Observersupporting

confidence: 69%

Using a range of methods to access children's voices

Lambert

Glacken²,

McCarron

2013

Journal of Research in Nursing

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“…Participant observation is flexible, allowing for many combinations and permutations of data collection in the research setting (Carnevale et al, 2008). Burgess (1984) described participant observation as employing four levels of involvement: participant, participant-as-observer, observer-as-participant and observer.…”

Section: Entering the Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using an emic and etic ethnographic technique in a grounded theory study of information use by practice nurses in New Zealand

Hoare

Buetow

Mills

et al. 2012

Journal of Research in Nursing

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This paper draws lessons from the use of an emic-etic ethnographical technique in a grounded theory study of how New Zealand practice nurses use information. The technique was used to heighten theoretical sensitivity in this study. As a nurse practitioner, I (the lead author) could not step out of my emic perspective to provide an etic perspective of my own general practice. From my emic embodied subjectivity I constructed my work environment to fit with best practice. Conversely, in four other general practices, my lack of personal connection protected an etic sense of disembodiment. New insights into mental models guiding the emic and etic roles of ethnography are suggested. Emic and etic perspectives, along with embodied and disembodied feelings, are not binary opposites but rather sit along a philosophical continuum. Their position on this continuum depends on the role and relationships of the researcher(s) in the social and cultural context of the area of inquiry.

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“…The main challenge related to the recruitment of children came from the difficulty communicating with parents (e.g., often having to send consent letters home via children rather than meeting parents directly). Consistent with a focused ethnographic framework, participant observation was the primary method for data collection because it has been shown to produce richer data and foster insights more readily than other research methods (such as structured interviews) with children (Carnevale, Macdonald, Bluebond-Langner, & McKeever, 2008). We conducted 22 sessions of participant observation during the academic support program with groups of 10 to 25 children, over a span of eight weeks.…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Moral Experiences of Children Living in Poverty: A Focused Ethnography

Montreuil¹,

Saint-Laurent²,

Carnevale³

2017

J Child. Stud.

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<div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="section"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span>A focused ethnography was conducted in an after-school academic support program serving vulnerable populations in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The aim of this study was to </span><span>explore the moral experiences of children living in poverty to inform on their daily experiences and moral lives. Our results highlighted that these children, who were experiencing </span><span>economic hardship and/or social isolation, faced various social barriers, such as stigmatization, family isolation, and linguistic challenges for new immigrant children. As active agents, they navigated the challenges they encountered with help from the program. </span></p></div></div></div></div>

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Using participant observation in pediatric health care settings: ethical challenges and solutions

Cited by 70 publications

References 15 publications

Using a range of methods to access children's voices

Using a range of methods to access children's voices

Using an emic and etic ethnographic technique in a grounded theory study of information use by practice nurses in New Zealand

The Moral Experiences of Children Living in Poverty: A Focused Ethnography

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