IntroducingIntroducing

The right to be properly The right to be properly researched: researched:

How to do rights-based, How to do rights-based, scientific research with scientific research with

childrenchildren

A 10-manual boxed setA 10-manual boxed setWorld VisionWorld VisionNorwegian Centre for Child ResearchNorwegian Centre for Child ResearchKnowing ChildrenKnowing Children

AimsAims

• ‘‘How to’ and ‘Can do’ guidance for How to’ and ‘Can do’ guidance for research with childrenresearch with children

• Empower children (and adults) to Empower children (and adults) to find out about their own livesfind out about their own lives

• Put scientific, replicable information, Put scientific, replicable information, from children and about children, in from children and about children, in the hands of policy makers and the hands of policy makers and programmersprogrammers

A new concept in publishingA new concept in publishing

• Ten, easy-to-use manuals in a boxed setTen, easy-to-use manuals in a boxed set

• Linked to password-access website Linked to password-access website materialsmaterials– ArticlesArticles– Capacity-building workshop exercisesCapacity-building workshop exercises– Research tools Research tools – Ethical toolsEthical tools– Numerical examplesNumerical examples– LinksLinks

What do we meanWhat do we mean

Rights-based?Rights-based?

The right to be properly The right to be properly researchedresearched

The right to be The right to be properly researchedproperly researchedUnited Nations Convention United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Childon the Rights of the Child

• Article 12: OpinionArticle 12: Opinion

• Article 13: ExpressionArticle 13: Expression

• Article 3: StandardsArticle 3: Standards

• Article 36: ExploitationArticle 36: Exploitation

Basic principles of dignity and respectBasic principles of dignity and respect

ChildrenChildren’’s right to be properly s right to be properly researched meansresearched means

• Participation of children (including as researchers)Participation of children (including as researchers)

• Appropriate methods for use with childrenAppropriate methods for use with children

• Scientific method - systematicScientific method - systematic

• Ethical behaviour of adultsEthical behaviour of adults

What do we meanWhat do we mean

Scientific?Scientific?

Systematic Systematic curiositycuriosity

• Look firstLook first

• Involve peopleInvolve people

• Ask questions afterwardsAsk questions afterwards

• Quantitative is not better than qualitativeQuantitative is not better than qualitative

– There is no valid distinctionThere is no valid distinction

– Without words, nothing can be Without words, nothing can be countedcounted

– Numbers on their own mean nothingNumbers on their own mean nothing

Systematic Systematic collectioncollectionand analysis ofand analysis of‘qualitative’ data‘qualitative’ data

Results inResults in

• Scientific numbersScientific numbers

• Children’s own voicesChildren’s own voices

Manual 1: Manual 1: Where do we start?Where do we start?• EE xplains xplains

– TT - he rights based - he rights basedapproachapproach to rese to rese

arch with childre arch with childrenn

– and how it relate and how it relate s to other s to other researcresearc h approaches h approaches

Children can participate in research Children can participate in research at any stage and any ageat any stage and any age

Manual 2Manual 2How do we protect children?How do we protect children?

Explains

–T he ethical rules– and ethical metho

ds

that are necessary in all research with child

ren

Ethical issues Ethical issues in research in research with childrenwith children

• Do no harmDo no harm• Protect childrenProtect children• Agree on interventionsAgree on interventions• Do not put children at riskDo not put children at risk• Do not exploit adult powerDo not exploit adult power

• ConfidentialityConfidentiality• Voluntary participation Voluntary participation

(informed consent/refusal)(informed consent/refusal)

Manual 3Manual 3How can we be good How can we be good researchers researchers with children?with children?

•PP rovides information rovides information necessary for training necessary for training

•SS o that all o that all researcheresearche rs rs

•And stakeholdersAnd stakeholders

•AA re fully equipped to re fully equipped to work with children work with children

For example: Research-For example: Research-methods methods and design workshops for and design workshops for World Vision and NOSEBWorld Vision and NOSEBfacilitated by Knowing facilitated by Knowing ChildrenChildren

By the end of training workshops, researchers:By the end of training workshops, researchers:

– Understood the principles of research with children, Understood the principles of research with children, including ethical issues and proceduresincluding ethical issues and procedures

– Had contributed to the development of a researchers’ Had contributed to the development of a researchers’ manual, containing all research tools and proceduresmanual, containing all research tools and procedures

– Had been trained on using the manual to collect dataHad been trained on using the manual to collect data

Manual 4Manual 4What do we know already What do we know already and what do we want to and what do we want to know?know?•Explains

•Secondary data analysis

•How to decide– Research topics– Research questio

ns

Manual 5Manual 5How are we going to find How are we going to find out?out?

•ExplainsExplains

–Research methodsResearch methods

–How to choose How to choose methodsmethods

–How to design toolsHow to design tools

–How to pilot toolsHow to pilot tools

For example: Group For example: Group drawingsdrawings

Individual workIndividual work

Body mapBody map

Migration mapMigration map

Manual 6Manual 6How can we get the best How can we get the best data?data?• GG uidance on uidance on

• Researchers’ Researchers’ manualmanual

• RR esearch plannin esearch planningg

• Research mResearch manageanagement.ment.

A researchers’ manual will A researchers’ manual will containcontain

• Research aims, questions and planResearch aims, questions and plan• Ethical procedures and tools (for use with both Ethical procedures and tools (for use with both

children and adults)children and adults)– ConfidentialityConfidentiality– Informed consentInformed consent– How to deal with ethical dilemmasHow to deal with ethical dilemmas

• Research tools such asResearch tools such as– Standard observation sheetStandard observation sheet– Children’s individual drawings Children’s individual drawings – Body map for groups of childrenBody map for groups of children– List of ‘wants, hopes and fears’ (individual children)List of ‘wants, hopes and fears’ (individual children)– Migration map for groups of childrenMigration map for groups of children– Attitude survey for individual children and adultsAttitude survey for individual children and adults– Protection tool for childrenProtection tool for children

Manual 7Manual 7How do we count data?How do we count data?

• Evaluating research Evaluating research methodsmethods

• Preparing data forPreparing data for

– Numerical analysisNumerical analysis– Thematic analysisThematic analysis

Manual 8Manual 8What do numbers mean?What do numbers mean?

• Shows how to

• Analyse numbers• Analyse words• Analyse words and

numbers together• Compare and contrast

results from different tools and groups (‘triangulation’)

• Answer research questions

Manual 9Manual 9How do we write the report?How do we write the report?

•G uidance on

•W riting clear report s about research re

sults

•F or a variety of readers– I ncluding children

Manual 10Manual 10Research dictionaryResearch dictionary• EE asy reference dictio asy reference dictio

narynary

• CC larifies the meaning larifies the meaning s of research terms a s of research terms a s they are used s they are used in the in the

- rights based approac- rights based approachh

Rights-based Rights-based Any form of work with Any form of work with human beings thathuman beings that

is based in is based in international international human-human-rights law rights law and and practice.practice.

Research Research Purposeful, Purposeful, systematic systematic scientific scientific information information gathering gathering and analysis and analysis to satisfy to satisfy curiosity or curiosity or examine a examine a problem.problem.

Thank youThank you

All photographs and data shown All photographs and data shown in this presentation were in this presentation were collected after informed consent collected after informed consent had been sought and obtainedhad been sought and obtained

© Knowing Children© Knowing Children

Photographs: Photographs:

Tatek Abebe, Judith Ennew,Tatek Abebe, Judith Ennew,

Thanakorn Noonsup and World Thanakorn Noonsup and World

Vision LaosVision Laos