Working with children in research requires careful planning and adherence to ethical guidelines. Researchers must ensure their work is necessary, follows all applicable laws, and uses appropriate techniques for working with children. They should never put children in harmful or risky situations without proper approvals and consent. When conducting research with children, researchers must protect participants' well-being, confidentiality, and mental stability above all other concerns. Thorough preparation is essential to ensure children are respected and their development is not negatively impacted.

1. WHAT TO KNOW WHEN…

2. So you decided to work with children?
 Is it useful or necessary to involve children?
 Am I following the laws to work with children?
 Do I know how to work with children (Technique)?
If you answered “NO” to any of
these questions, you must not
work with children in your
research…lets see why…
Think & Answer HONESTLY:

3. Who research with children?
Working with children is useful and MUST
be done only when it’s SAFE, and when the
results have MORE BENEFITS than any
possible risks.
Some people doing research with children:
Education
planners.
Health and science
investigators.
Toys and games
designers.
Digital Social
media developers.
Marketing
researchers.

4. Follow the rules…please!
Look for the current laws and regulations that applies in your country
• Get approbation from your Ethic Committee.
• Fill all the necessary formats (waivers, permits)
• Get written consent from parents.
• Make sure your research is not harmful.
• Protect confidentiality of participants.
• Inform of your results to the parents and
authorities.
You MUST always remember to:

5. Prepare your session, and have alternative plans.
NEVER improvise… ADAPT!!!
There is no blueprint when working with children.
Use the method that best fits your research, but don’t force it.
Impact
diagram
Body
mapping
Open-ended
questions
Drama and
role play
RESEARCH
METHODS
Participant
observation
Flow charts
Focus groups
Evaluation
wheel

6. When you are with children…
• Be yourself, don’t pretend.
• More Listening 95%, less Talking 5%
• Talk to them as children not as mini adults.
• Use their language, their timing, but don’t be a clown.
• Look at their eyes but do it gently.
• Keep your head at the same height as theirs.
• Don’t research alone, get help to take notes, videos,
recordings.
Breathe and Keep calm.
Think but don’t overthink!

7. Just in case…
STOP the activity! Don’t press them, that affects your results
What if children:
…don’t feel comfortable, or
don’t want to participate, or
don‘t want to talk, or
don’t know any answer…

8. So lets see if you got the idea…
You are invited to be part of a research to know children’s tolerance to loneliness,
darkness or scary environments. Would you be part of this research?
Probably not, right?
Think about this:
Case A
It doesn’t feel right to scare children just
to see what happens next!!!!
Could you justify the creation of a harmful environment for children’s mental stability?
Would parents allow you to have their kids in a threatening position?
Would your Ethical Committee would accept a proposal like this?
You could face legal issues by exposing children to risky/unjustified situations.

9. Now try it by yourself…
Would you work with children in your research if you are planning to
find out the sequels or immediate impacts in children victims of
domestic violence?
YES  NO , WHY?
HINTS (from slide No.2):
Case B
Remember, if you answered “NO” to any of these questions,
you MUST not work with children in your research!!
 Is it useful or necessary to involve children? (are there Risks?)
 Am I following the laws to work with children? (Consents,
approbations, permits)
 Do I know how to work with children (Technique)?

10. Final comments:
Working with children in your research is NOT a game, be
prepared, look for a proper method, and follow the rules.
NEVER forget that children:
BE GENTLE
BE PATIENCE
LEARN IT
JOIN THEM
BE AUTHENTIC
RESPECT THEM
Are a delicate resource:
Are not all the same:
Have their own language:
Love to play:
Can perceive dishonesty:
Are protected by their parents, by laws:

11. To know more!
The more you know, the better you are prepared to do your research.
You can google: research with children, kids research, kids participatory research, research involving children
• http://nuffieldbioethics.org/wp-content/uploads/Children-and-clinical-research-full-report.pdf
• http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2206.1997.00056.x/epdf
I encourage you to make a deep research before working with children, visit more Slides in slideshare:
• http://www.slideshare.net/stephenzeni1/improvistion-and-youth-development
• http://www.slideshare.net/InSitesConsulting_onStage/get-close-to-youth-at-esomar-qualitative-2014
• http://www.slideshare.net/DetroitYDRC/improving-and-demonstrating-impact-for-youth-using-qualitative-data
• http://www.slideshare.net/BeeKhan/youth-participatory-evaluations-17117764
• http://www.slideshare.net/dhinnar/qualitative-research-6368715
• http://www.slideshare.net/RonaldQuileste/the-art-of-giving-effective-student-feedback
• http://www.slideshare.net/UXPA/kids-say-the-darndest-things1
• http://www.slideshare.net/thisisdaniel/topic-5-research-methods-for-studying-children
• http://www.slideshare.net/YoungLivesOxford/berlin-wellbeing-july-2015-morrow
• http://www.slideshare.net/yahay/doing-research-with-children
• http://www.slideshare.net/BorderCrossingMedia/ux-scotland-2014-user-research-and-testing-with-children
• http://www.slideshare.net/StefanieDuguay/using-dif
• http://www.slideshare.net/cinteractionlab/hcid2014-howto-involvechildrenindesignmonicaferrarocityuniversity
• http://www.slideshare.net/UIHSO/c-wchildassent
• http://www.slideshare.net/DoraKukucska/research-involving-children
• http://www.slideshare.net/MusicforKids/2what-research-is-telling-us
• http://www.slideshare.net/cchamp/engaging-kids-in-research-with-web-20-tools
Just click on any link to find more: