Brady L-M and Graham B ( 2018) Conducting social research or evaluation with children or young people, Policy Press, Bristol.
This indispensable guide, covers all the ethical, methodological, theoretical and practical basics, in a user-friendly way. It is based on and supplements my popular course for the Social Research Association.
The guide provides plenty of practical suggestions. As well as guidance on ethical issues, such as informed consent, safeguarding and confidentiality, it discusses how to choose the best methods for both the topic and the children and young people concerned, including encouraging researchers and evaluators to try creative and participatory approaches.
It is mainly designed for those who already have some research or evaluation know-how, but want to feel more confident applying that to younger participants. For example getting valid consent from a broad range of children and young people with different needs and limiting bias when working through gatekeepers are common challenges. There is also a chapter on involving young people as joint or co- researchers and to whatever extent works for the project and them.
“Chapter 4 on ethical considerations also demonstrates both the theoretical and practical complexities of this key aspect of research with children… in a very comprehensive and accessible way, with useful examples and summarised key points. Chapter 5 on designing appropriate methods … is equally comprehensive and accessible, yet ensures that the intricacies are not overlooked. …this text serves well its purpose in introducing some of the complexities in undertaking research with children, and placing these within a clear understanding of why this is both the right and the beneficial thing to do“
Ruth Sinclair, Review in Childcare in Practice, Volume 25, 2019 – Issue 4