Reflections of a researcher on the use of a child-centred approach

Citation

Emond R (2006) Reflections of a researcher on the use of a child-centred approach. Irish Journal of Psychology, 27 (1-2), pp. 97-104. https://doi.org/10.1080/03033910.2006.10446332

Abstract
The ‘new' sociology of childhood has drawn academic attention to the relationship between the social construction of childhood and the place of children in research. Recent shifts in thinking have allowed for children to be regarded as active social agents who make choices and negotiate their social and intellectual pathways around existing adult controls. Thus, academics have had to begin to consider how research can be conducted with children rather than on them. This paper reflects on the experience of undertaking child-centred research and debates the extent to which children can, in reality, be central to all elements of the research process. It refers to the author's own research experiences in order to highlight the factors which serve to facilitate and inhibit research with children. Crucially, the author engages with the notion that child-centred or child-focused research requires that children are active rather than passive partners to the researcher.

Journal
Irish Journal of Psychology: Volume 27, Issue 1-2

People

Professor Ruth Emond

Professor, Social Work