STEPS TO ENGAGING YOUNG CHILDREN IN RESEARCH VOLUME 1: THE GUIDE Education Research Centre, University of Brighton Funded by the Bernard van Leer Foundation July 2014 Edited by VICKY JOHNSON, ROGER HART, and JENNIFER COLWELL Available for download at: http://www.bernardvanleer.org/steps-to-engaging-young-children-in-research PRINTING This report has been designed to print in A4 size. If you wish to print this report in American letter size, please ensure that you scale the paper size in your print options. 2 Steps to Engaging Young Children in Research DEDICATION This resource is dedicated to Judith Ennew who gave children a voice, fought for their rights and inspired many others to do the same. Steps to Engaging Young Children in Research 3 Contributors The research team: Programme Officer for Latin America, Bernard van Leer Foundation Vicky Johnson: Researchers have also contributed examples of Principal Research Fellow, Project Lead, University of their research from different parts of the world in Brighton. Contact [email protected]. case studies of learning from practice as follows: Roger Hart: Professor of Psychology and Geography, Graduate Anannia Admassu and Girma Amentie on early Center of The City University of New York learning in CHADET in Ethiopia Jennifer Colwell: Gina Crivello and Vanesssa Rojas Arangoitia on Research Fellow, University of Brighton wellbeing from Young Lives in Peru Andy West: Vicky Johnson, Joanna Hill and Pashupati Sapkota Associate Researcher (freelance consultant) on ‘Listening to Smaller Voices’ in Nepal Xenia Carvalho: Roger Hart, Jasmine Rajbjandary and Chandrika Researcher, University of Brighton Khatiwada on group organisation in Nepal Anslem Wandega and Ruth Birungi on school Advisor: linking in ANPPCAN in Uganda Mallika Kanyal on the school environment in North Selim Iltus: India Research and Evaluation Officer, Bernard van Leer Johanna Einarsdottir on transitions to primary Foundation schools in Iceland Andy West on water supply in Tibet in China Expert advisors: Claire O’Kane and Rita Panicker on street and working child rights in India Linda Biersteker: Cath Larkins on citizenship of marginalised children Head of Research at the Early Learning Resource Unit in Europe (ELRU), South Africa Gina Crivello: Young Lives (Department of International Development), University of Oxford Johanna Einarsdottir: Professor of Education, University of Iceland Susan Engel: Professor, Department of Psychology at Williams College Judith Ennew: Director, Knowing Children Donna Koller: Associate Professor, School of Early Childhood Studies, Ryerson University Claire O’Kane: Independent consultant in childhood and youth Filipe Reis: Head of Anthropology Department, ISCTE, University Institute of Lisbon Pashupati Sapkota: Program Manager, Save the Children, Nepal Rajni Singh Shivakotee: Independent Child Rights Specialist & Activist Anslem Wandega: PRINTING Executive Director of ANPPCAN Uganda Chapter (African Network for the Prevention and Protection This report has been designed to print in A4 size. If you wish against Child Abuse and Neglect) to print this report in American letter size, please ensure that Leonardo Yanez: you scale the paper size in your print options. 4 Steps to Engaging Young Children in Research Acknowledgements There are many people who have supported this work. We would like to thank each of the expert advisors and contributors who have worked with us. The team would also like to thank Selim Iitus at the Bernard van Leer Foundation for his inspiration and for the initiation of this project. The development of this resource has been funded by the Bernard van Leer Foundation, and through the contributions of individuals who are passionate about including young children in research and in decision- making on issues that impact upon their lives. This process can be seen as the first stage in a process of building a community of practice of researchers who work with young children. We would also like to thank the administrative staff at the Bernard van Leer Foundation, particularly Inge Hanny, and at the University of Brighton, particularly Jo Havers and Sylvia Willis. We would also like to thank Nicolette Sheehan, Elizabeth Briggs and Angela Coffey for the copy editing. Steps to Engaging Young Children in Research 5 Acronyms CHADET Organization for Child Development and Transformation CPCs Child Protection Committees CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child CSC Community Sensitization Committee DFID Department for International Development (UK Government) ECCE Early Childhood Care and Education ECD Early Childhood Development HICODEF Himalayan Community Development Forum INGO International Non-Governmental Organisation MDG Millennium Development Goals NGOs Non-Governmental Organisations PAR Participatory Action Research PA Participatory Appraisal PtP Pikin-to-Pikin SLD Severe Learning Difficulties PRA Participatory Rural Appraisal UNCRC United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child UNICEF The United Nations Children’s Fund VAC Violence Against Children 6 Steps to Engaging Young Children in Research Contents 6 Acronyms 8 Introduction to The Researcher Toolkit and Resource 10 The Steps for Engaging Young Children in Research 11 The Six Steps for engaging children in research 15 Academic Background and Guidance on steps to engaging young children in research 16 Background to Involving Young Children in Research 21 Step 1: Capability including values, knowledge and skills 25 Step 2: Developing ethical processes 31 Step 3: Building supportive, trustful relationships 35 Step 4: Choosing methods and communication using different media 36 – Cluster 1: Interviews and discussions 42 – Cluster 2: Child led-tours/ In-situ methods 47 – Cluster 3: Visuals for free expression 50 – Cluster 4: Visual structures and templates 54 – Cluster 5: Narrative and performance 60 – Cluster 6: Play and games 66 Step 6: Flexibility in different contexts 68 Introduction to case studies in learning from practice in research 115 Linking to the researcher Tool Kit Steps to Engaging Young Children in Research 7 INTRODUCTION TO THE RESEARCHER TOOLKIT AND RESOURCE The Researcher Toolkit and Researcher Resource have These templates were piloted by researchers working in been developed to support researchers to include South Africa and India before being shared with experts young children in research; particularly children aged living and working in a variety of global contexts. This 5-8 years of age. While it has been designed to support included researchers working in Australia, Africa, Asia, those who are seeking to include young children in Europe, North America and South America. Through this research for the first time we hope that the broad broad sweep in the collection of methods we have been range of methods described will also be of value for able to gather methods that have been successfully more seasoned researchers. It does this by providing used in research with young children for a wide range a six-step process for designing research and through of types of research questions and in a very broad range systematically identifying and describing a range of of contexts. This has enabled us to identify some of the methods that have been used with young children in many important kinds of cultural, religious and resource diverse contexts around the world. issues that one needs to consider when working with children in very different kinds of settings. We use the term ‘researcher’ throughout this resource to refer to anyone involved in designing and conducting We have also included case studies to show how the research including: practitioners, academics, community research methods have been applied in different parts workers, staff in hospitals, street workers, school of the world. These case studies enable us to illustrate teachers and many others. that the methods described in this set of resources should not be simply copied; research design should This publication, Steps to Engaging Children in Research is involve the creative selection, combining and modifying accompanied by a Researcher Toolkit. of methods if it is to be safe, engaging, productive and relevant to children’s lives. The Collective Strategy Used The Structure of this Resource for Producing this Publication ‘Steps to Engaging Young Children in Research’ is split into Academics and practitioners, who had actively carried a Researcher Resource and a Researcher Toolkit. These out research with children aged 5-8 years old, were have been developed to assist researchers to design identified and asked to join a network of experts. research which is ethical, sensitive to the needs of the These experts represented a range of academic and children, the community in which they live, whilst also professional fields, including: streetwork, playwork, being engaging for young children. These steps suggest social work, childhood studies, education, psychology, an initial process of reviewing capabilities, developing counseling, sociology, and anthropology and ethical protocols and building trust and relationships. geography. This Researcher Resource provides academic background An initial meeting of experts took place in The Hague about why young children should be involved in in June 2013. Experts attended from Canada, Iceland, research and provides more guidance on each of the six India, Malaysia, Nepal, Peru, South Africa, Uganda, the steps to engaging young children in research. UK, and the USA. A draft literature review and framework