Children as co-researchers

In the past children and young people have often been marginalised in research and their voices have been silent. Now, grounded in an appreciation of children’s rights, the trend is to engage with children as co-researchers. There are great advantages to this approach, because it allows children to be heard, but there are also challenges. Caroline Bradbury-Jones explores the ethical, methodological, practical and protection issues associated with a participatory research approach. Among the topics discussed are those of assessing children’s competence; ensuring sufficient preparation; the balancing of insider/outsider perspectives; the need for appropriate remuneration; overcoming power differentials between children and adults; and the safeguarding of children working as co-researchers. The author takes a pragmatic approach and proposes solutions to the multiplicity of issues raised. The book will assist researchers who adopt a participatory approach to overcome the inherent challenges within such work, with particular emphasis on protection. Children have a right to be protected and as such, the book is a valuable resource for postgraduate students and academic staff from a range of disciplines, particularly across health, social care and education, who engage with children as co-researchers.