Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T06:33:46.780Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Developing a model for participation by children in research on decision making

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Jan Mason  and
Robert Urquhart
Jan Mason
Affiliation:
Childhood & Youth Policy Research Unit, University of Western Sydney, Macarthur. Email: [email protected]
Robert Urquhart
Affiliation:
Social Justice and Research Program, UnitingCareBurnside. Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper outlines a three-year collaborative research project which aims to involve children and young people, as well as other stakeholders, in exploring strategies to meet the needs of children in care. In this paper we identify some research findings which indicate the importance of children participating in the defining of their needs in care, if these needs are to be responded to more effectively than has been the case in the past. We describe the aims of our three-year project and identify some of the methodological issues of implementing stage one of the project in terms of children’s participation. A conceptual framework is developed to clarify issues related to children’s participation in research and decision making and as a basis for deciding on appropriate research methods to employ in the first stage. Rather than merely outlining the work we have so far undertaken, we have insteadfocussed on reflecting on and analysing the theoretical and methodological challenges to researchers in implementing collaborative and participatory research in decision making with children.

Type
Research Article
Information
Children Australia , Volume 26 , Issue 4 , 2001 , pp. 16 - 21
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alanen, L. (1992) Modern Children? Exploring the Child Question in Sociology, Research Report 50, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland.Google Scholar
Alanen, L. (2000) ‘Women’s Studies/Childhood Studies: Parallels, Links and Perspectives’ in Mason, J. and Wilkinson, M. (eds), Taking Children Seriously: Proceedings of a National Workshop, 12–13 July 1999, University of Western Sydney, Macarthur, Childhood and Youth Policy Research Unit, University of Western Sydney, Macarthur.Google Scholar
Alderson, P. (2000) Young Children’s Rights: Exploring Beliefs, Principles and Practice, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.Google Scholar
Arnstein, S. (1969) ‘Eight Rings on the Ladder of Citizen Participation’, Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 35(4), 216–224.Google Scholar
Beker, J. (1994) ‘Does Institutional Care Do More Harm Than Good?’ in Gambrill, E. & Stein, T. (eds) Controversial Issues in Child Welfare, Allyn and Bacon, Boston.Google Scholar
Bird, C. (1998) The Stolen Children: Their Stories, Random House, Sydney.Google Scholar
Bird, J. & Ibidun, K. (1996) ‘Underground Power’, in John, M. (ed) Children in Charge: The Child’s Right to a Fair Hearing, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.Google Scholar
Cashmore, J. & Castell-McGregor, S. (1996) ‘The Child Protection and Welfare System’ in Funder, K. (ed) Citizen Child, Australian Institute of Family Studies, Australia.Google Scholar
Cashmore, J. & Paxman, M. (1996) Wards Leaving Care: A Longitudinal Study, NSW Department of Community Services, Sydney.Google Scholar
Community Services Commission (2000) Voices of Children and Young People in Foster Care, Community Services Commission, Sydney.Google Scholar
Davis, J., Watson, N., and Cunningham-Burley, S. (2000) ‘Learning the Lives of Disabled Children: Developing a Reflexive Approach’, in Christensen, P. and James, A. (eds), Research With Children: Perspectives and Practices, London and New York, Falmer Press.Google Scholar
Frost, N. & Stein, M. (1989) The Politics of Child Welfare Harvester Wheatsheaf, London.Google Scholar
Gilchrist, C. (1998) ‘Children in Care Speak Out’, childRIGHT, November 1st: 13–14.Google Scholar
Goddard, C. & Carew, R. (1993) Responding to Children. Child Welfare and Practice, Melbourne. Longman Chesire.Google Scholar
Hart, R. (1992) Children’s Participation from Tokenship to Citizenship, UNICEF, Florence.Google Scholar
Hedrick, H. (2000) ‘The Child as a Social Actor in Historical Sources: Problems of Identification and Interpretation’ in Christensen, P. and James, A. (eds), Research With Children: Perspectives and Practices, London and New York, Falmer Press: 36–61.Google Scholar
Hill, M., Laybourn, A. & Borland, M. (1996) ‘Engaging with Primary-aged Children about their Emotions and Well – being: Methodological Considerations’, Children and Society, 30.Google Scholar
John, M., (ed), (1996) Children in Charge: The Child’s Right to a Fair Hearing, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.Google Scholar
Kagan, J., (1980) ‘The Psychological Requirements for Human Development’, in Skolnick, A. and Skolnick, J. (eds) Family in Transition, Little, Brown and Company. Boston.Google Scholar
Katz, I., (1995) ‘Approaches to Empowerment and Participation in Child Protection’, in Cloke, C. and Davies, M., (eds), Participation and Empowerment in Child Protection, John Wiley and Sons Publishing, England.Google Scholar
Kempe, R., and Kempe, C., (1978) Child Abuse, Fontana/Open Books, London.Google Scholar
Leech, P., (1994) Children First, Penguin Books, London.Google Scholar
Lincoln, Y., (1993) ‘I and Thou: Method, Voice, and Roles in Research with the Silenced’, in McLaughlin, D., and Tierney, W., (eds), Naming Silenced Lives. Personal Narratives and the Process of Educational Change, Routledge, London.Google Scholar
Mason, J. (ed) (1993) Child Welfare Policy: Critical Australian Perspectives, Hale and Iremonger, Sydney.Google Scholar
Mason, J. (1996) ‘Privatisation and Substitute Care: Recent policy developments in New South Wales and their significance’, Children Australia, 21(1): 4–8.Google Scholar
Mason, J. & Steadman, B. (1997) ‘The Significance of the Conceptualisation of Childhood for Promoting Children’s Contributions to Child Protection Policy’, Family Matters, Autumn (46): 31–36.Google Scholar
New Internationalist, July 1997: 7–10.Google Scholar
New South Wales Child Protection Council (1998) Having a Say, New South Wales Child Protection Council, Sydney.Google Scholar
Owen, J. (1996) Every Childhood Lasts a Lifetime, Australian Association of Young People in Care, Australia.Google Scholar
Qvortrup, J. (2000) ‘Macroanalysis of Childhood’ in Christensen, P. and James, A. (eds), Research With Children: Perspectives and Practices, London and New York, Falmer Press: 77–99.Google Scholar
Roberts, H. (2000) ‘Listening to Children: and Hearing Them’ in Christensen, P. and James, A. (eds) Research With Children: Perspectives and Practices, London and New York, Falmer Press: 255–240.Google Scholar
Sherwin, M. (1996) ‘The law in relation to the wishes and feelings of the child’ in Davie, R. Upton, G. and Varma, V. (eds) Voice of the Child: A Handbook for Professionals. Falmer Press, London.Google Scholar
Sinclair, R. (1998) ‘Involving Children in Planning Their Care’ Child and Family Social Work, 3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, D. (1999) Writing the Social Critique, Theory and Investigations. University of Toronto Press, Toronto.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smokowski, P. & Wodarski, J. (1996) ‘The Effectiveness of Child Welfare Services for Poor, Neglected Children: A Review of the Empirical Evidence’ Research on Social Work Practice, 6(4) October.Google Scholar
Thomas, N., and O’Kane, C. (1999) The Ethics of Participatory Research with Children, unpublished version: International Centre for Childhood Studies University of Wales Swansea.Google Scholar
Thorpe, D. (1994) Evaluating Child Protection, Open University Press, Buckingham.Google Scholar
Waksler, F. (ed) (1991) Studying the Social Works of Children: Sociological Readings, The Falmer Press, London.Google Scholar
Woodhead, M. (1990) ‘Psychology and the Cultural Construction of Children’s Needs’, in James, A., and Prout, A. (eds) Constructing and Reconstructing Childhood. Falmer Press, London.Google Scholar