Child-Focused Research, Research with Children, Children as Researchers: The Ethical and Methodological Aspects of Empirical Studies in the Field of New Sociology of Children and Childhood

Abstract

Research on childhood, including research with the participation of children, is a developing area of scientific activity undertaken within the framework of interdisciplinary ‘new childhood studies’. It is currently based on the concept of a child as an active social actor and on the principles of the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Conducting research focused on children, research with children, as well as research where children assume the role of researchers (co-authors of the research project) requires a deeper reflection on ethics and methodology. As a minority group subjected to discrimination and marginalization in societies and cultures, children are considered to be “sensitive” or “vulnerable” research participants. The article is based on the analysis of the literature on new childhood studies as well as on qualitative interviews with experts (researchers experienced in childhood research). In the paper, I present important ethical and methodological issues and dilemmas of research with children, along with examples of solutions adopted in this regard within new childhood studies.