Embracing the embarrassment: Potential of seemingly unsuccessful research interactions for critical professional development. By Katrin Velten & Julia Höke

You can download this case study as a pdf here. When children participate in research, particularly research conducted with or by children, a key goal is to authentically represent their viewpoints. Striving for authentic representation involves being critical and reflexive of power dynamics and adultism across content, methodology and ethics (Alderson & Morrow, 2020; Graham […]

How can a researcher minimise causing harm when conducting interviews with particularly vulnerable children in longitudinal research?

Buchanan, D. (2024). How can a researcher minimise causing harm when conducting interviews with particularly vulnerable children in longitudinal research?. Children & Society, 38(2), pp. 349-364. Abstract: Using original data, this article explores the ethical issues that arose during a school ‘life histories’ study of ‘lower-attaining’ of 23 primary school pupils in England, from age […]

The impact of the school space on research methodology, child participation and safety: Views from children in Zanzibar.

Fay, F. (2018). The impact of the school space on research methodology, child participation and safety: Views from children in Zanzibar. Children’s Geographies, 16(4), pp.405-417. Abstract: This paper discusses the impact of school environments as research spaces on participatory research methods, children’s agency and safety. The article draws on 18 months of ethnographic fieldwork on […]

The IRB as gatekeeper: Effects on research with children and youth.

Harger, B., & Quintela, M. (2017). The IRB as gatekeeper: Effects on research with children and youth. In Castro, I.E., Swauger, M., & Harger, B. (Eds.). Researching children and youth: Methodological issues, strategies, and innovations. (Sociological Studies of Children and Youth, Vol. 22) (pp. 11-33). Emerald Publishing Limited: Bingley, UK. ISBN: 978-1-78714-099-8; e-ISBN: 978-1-78714-098-1. Chapter […]

Communicating with gatekeepers in UK educational settings. By Alice Little

You can download this case study as a pdf here. In the Spring of 2022 I joined a team of researchers exploring issues surrounding school toilet use in English schools. The project was funded by the Gender and Education Society and the Institute for Social Justice at York St John University. A group of young […]

Ethical reflections on children’s participation in educational research during humanitarian crises.

Maglio, F., & Pherali, T. (2020). Ethical reflections on children’s participation in educational research during humanitarian crises. Research Ethics, 16, 1-2, pp. 1-19. Abstract: This paper aims to reflect upon ethical dilemmas arising from educational research in humanitarian contexts, particularly when involving children. In recognition of the paucity of knowledge on how to define ethics […]

‘To say no wasn’t something we could do’: Reflexive accounts and negotiations of the ethical practice of informed consent during the research process and beyond.

Sixtenssen, J. (2022). ‘To say no wasn’t something we could do’: Reflexive accounts and negotiations of the ethical practice of informed consent during the research process and beyond. In The Politics and Ethics of Representation in Qualitative Research: Addressing Moments of Discomfort. The Critical Methodologies Collective (Eds.). Routledge: Abigndon, UK. ISBN: 978-0-367-28103-8 (paperback); ISBN: 978-0-429-29967-4 […]

‘It’s never okay to say no to teachers’: Children’s research consent and dissent in conforming schools contexts.

Kirby, P., (2020). ‘It’s never okay to say no to teachers’: Children’s research consent and dissent in conforming schools contexts. British Educational Research Journal, 46(4), pp. 811-828. Abstract: This article examines the limits to children giving research consent in everyday school contexts that emphasises their conformity to comply with adult expectations, and highlights children’s competence […]

Disability language in adapted physical education: What is the story?

Spencer, N. L., Peers, D., & Eales, L. (2020). Disability language in adapted physical education: What is the story? In J. A. Haegele, Hodge, S.R., Shapiro, D.R. (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Adapted Physical Education. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. This chapter builds upon other work by the authors in this space and discusses the conceptual frameworks underpinning […]

Reconsidering assent for randomised control trials in education: Ethical and procedural concerns.

McPherson, A., Saltmarsh, S., & Tomkins, S. (2020). Reconsidering assent for randomised control trials in education: Ethical and procedural concerns. British Educational Research Journal, 46(4), pp. 728-746. Abstract: Despite ongoing disagreement about what kinds of evidence are most valuable to education, there continues to be an increasing push to make a narrow group of scientific […]