Ethical Research Involving Children

Child focused research: Disconnected and disembodied voices.

Cooper, V. (2023). Child focused research: Disconnected and disembodied voices. Childhood, 30(1), pp.71-85.

Abstract: Voice represents a commitment to child focused studies which provide insights into childhood. This builds upon the assumption that voice equates to authenticity and that children’s words can speak for themselves. These claims remain disputed and more could be done to critique how voices are extracted, translated and used in research in ways which disconnect from embodied experiences within material and social contexts. Critical analysis provides an opportunity to consider next steps in voice research, calling for greater dialogue between disciplines and a reconsideration of disciplinary boundaries. Abstract reproduced with permission. The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in Childhood, 30(1), February 2023 by SAGE Publications, Ltd., All rights reserved. © [SAGE Publications, Ltd.].