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Methods and ethics in qualitative research exploring young children’s voice : A systematic review
Sun, Yihan Blewitt, Claire Edwards, Susan Fraser, Alexandra Newman, Shannon Cornelius, Julia Skouteris, Helen
Sun, Yihan
Blewitt, Claire
Edwards, Susan
Fraser, Alexandra
Newman, Shannon
Cornelius, Julia
Skouteris, Helen
Abstract
Young children have rights; they are agents and active constructors of their social worlds. Despite well-established theoretical foundations, the ‘methods’ and ‘ethics’ of qualitative research to elicit young children’s voice require further exploration to ensure young children are central to our research endeavors. This systematic review examined studies that sought to capture young children’s (3–6 years) voice in Early Childhood Education and Care settings. Fifty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Interview was found to be the most common strategy; this is often coupled with other child-friendly methods. Findings suggest that young children are increasingly listened to; however, there appears to be a need to further promote children’s agency and the inclusion of assent-seeking as an ongoing process. Gaps in methods supporting the inclusion of children with additional needs and Indigenous children are also evident. In addition, advancing non-permanent methods of meaning making to support children’s participation appears ripe for methodological innovation.
Keywords
child voice, research with children, informed assent, early childhood education and care
Date
2023
Type
Journal article
Journal
International Journal of Qualitative Methods
Book
Volume
22
Issue
Page Range
1-15
Article Number
ACU Department
Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education (ILSTE)
Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Education and Arts
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access
Open