Map Of Problem Fields In Social Research Involving Children Based On Focus Group Interviews
Abstract
The article presents the results of research creating maps of topics and problem areas in social research involving children. Fifteen people from research centres in Poland took part in focus group interviews (FGIs). The research question was: What formal problems, ethical and methodological dilemmas do people conducting social research involving children experience? Thematic analysis and problem area mapping techniques were used to analyse the data. Sets of codes, themes and problem areas were created: the substantive scope of research in contexts, the voice of the child and problem areas, the age of children, strategies and types of social research involving children, methodological, ethical and formal problems, and the needs of researchers. Results of the analysis: research involving children has become popular in Poland; those conducting it rarely use ready-made codes and good practices; most methodological and ethical problems are dilemmas, which forces researchers to constantly make difficult decisions; those conducting research involving children should have specific competences, skills and knowledge in the fields of law, psychology, pedagogy, interpersonal communication, safety procedures, etc.; there is a need to train people who sit on research ethics committees and make decisions/evaluate research projects involving children, and to standardise the practices of committees and evaluation criteria. Recommendation of the report: there is a need to develop a standard for social research involving children in Poland.
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