The ethical dilemmas of research with children from the countries of the Global South. Whose participation?

Markowska-Manista, Urszula

doi:10.2478/poljes-2018-0005

Abstract

The article outlines issues in the area of childhood studies and children’s rights that concern the participation of children and adolescents from the countries of the Global South in participatory research. The article presents the ethical aspects and methodological dilemmas of such research, pertaining to engaging children and adolescents in research conducted by adults. Other issues addressed in the text refer to the child’s right to respect, the subjective treatment of children and adolescents (as respondents) as well as the limits of participatory involvement of children in the research process. The article also discusses the ethical dilemmas of research whose methodological approaches and concepts were designed in a different, distinct socio-cultural context and can interfere in the life and functioning of the community it is conducted in, including a negative influence on children’s social situation in the future.

References

Alderson, P. (1995). Listening to children: children, ethics and social research. Ilford: Dr Barnardo’s.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Alderson, P., & Goodey, C. (1996). Research with disabled children: how useful is child-centred ethics? Children & Society, 10(2), 106-116.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ashcroft, B., Griffiths, G., & Tiffin, H. (2002). The empire writes back: Theory and practice in post-colonial literatures. New York: Routledge.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Beazley, H., Bessell, S., Ennew, J., & Waterson, R. (2011). How are the human rights of children related to research methodology. In: A. Invernizzi & J. Williams (Eds.), The human rights of children: From visions to implementation (pp. 159-178). ASHGATE.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Canosa, A., Graham A., Wilson, E. (2018). Reflexivity and ethical mindfulness in participatory research with children: What does it really look like? Childhood, 25(3), 400-415.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Christensen, P., & Prout, A. (2002). Working with ethical symmetry in social research with children. Childhood, 9(4), 477-497.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Clark, J. (2004). Participatory research with children and young people: philosophy, possibilities and perils. Action Research Expeditions, 4(11), 1-18.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Connel R. http://www.raewynconnell.net/p/theory.html (accessed: January 5, 2019).
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989: Retrieved from: http://www.unicef.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/UNCRC_united_nations_convention_on_the_rights_of_the_child.pdf (accessed: December 20, 2018).
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Cousins, W., & Milner, S. (2007). Small voices: Children’s rights and representation in social work research. Social Work Education, 26(5), 447-457.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Denzin, N.K. (2017). Critical qualitative inquiry. Qualitative Inquiry, 23(1), 8-16.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ennew, J., & Plateau, D. (2004). How to research the physical and emotional punishment of children. Bangkok: International Save the Children Alliance, Southeast, East Asia and Pacifc Region. Ennew, J., & Plateau, D. (2005). ‘I cry when I am hit’: Children have the right to be properly researched. Paper contributed to UNESCO, Eliminating Corporal Punishment - The Way Forward to Constructive Child Discipline. Paris: UNESCO.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Esser, F., Baader, M.S., Betz, T., & Hungerland, B. (Eds.) (2016). Reconceptualising agency and childhood: New perspectives in childhood studies. London: Routledge.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ethical Research Involving Children. Retrieved from: https://childethics.com (accessed: January 5, 2019).
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Feinstein, C., & O’Kane, C. (2008). Ethical Guidelines. For ethical, meaningful and inclusive children’s participation practice, Save the Children Norway 2008. Retrieved from: https://childethics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Feinstein-OKane-2008.pdf (acessed: January 5, 2019).
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Fine, M. (2016). Just methods in revolting times. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 13(4), 347-365.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Fine, M. (2017). Just research in contentious times: Widening the methodological imagination. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Graham, A., Powell, M., Taylor, N., Anderson, D., & Fitzgerald, R. (2013). Ethical Research Involving Children. Florence: UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Groundwater-Smith, S., Dockett, S., & Bottrell, D. (2015). Ethical Questions in Relation to Participatory Research with Children and Young People. In: S. Groundwater-Smith, S. Dockett, & D. Bottrell, Participatory research with children and young people. Sage.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kellett, M. (2005). Children as active researchers: a new research paradigm for the 21st century? ESRC, UK. Retrieved from: http://oro.open.ac.uk/7539/1/MethodsReviewPaperNCRM-003.pdf (accessed: January 5, 2019).
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kirby, P. (1999). Involving Young Researchers. York: York Publishing Services.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lee-Treweek, G., & Linkogle, S. (Eds.) (2000). Danger in the field. Risk and ethics in social research. London: Routledge.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Liebel M., (2017). Badania realizowane przez dzieci: doświadczenia z dziećmi „niedopasowanymi”, In: M. Liebel & U. Markowska-Manista, Prawa dziecka w kontekście międzykulturowości. Janusz Korczak na nowo odczytywany (pp. 221-240). Warszawa: Wyd. Akademii Pedagogiki Specjalnej.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Markowska-Manista U., (2017). The dilemmas and passions in intercultural field research - a female pedagogue’s ethnographic notes, In: U. Markowska-Manista & J. Pilarska (Eds.), An Introspective Approach to Women’s Intercultural Fieldwork (pp. 126-147). Warszawa: Wyd. Akademii Pedagogiki Specjalnej.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Morrow, V. (2008). Ethical dilemmas in research with children and young people about their social environments. Children’s geographies, 6(1), 49-61.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Nigel T., & O’kane, C. (1998). The ethics of participatory research with children. Children & society, 12(5), 336-348.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Phelan, S.K., & Kinsella, E.A. (2013). Picture this... safety, dignity, and voice - Ethical research with children: Practical considerations for the reflexive researcher. Qualitative inquiry, 19(2), 81-90. Prout A., & James, A. (Eds) (1997). Constructing and Reconstructing Childhood: Contemporary Issues in the Sociological Study of Childhood. London, New York: Falmer Press.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Rancew-Sikora, D., & Cymbrowski, B. (2016). Dylematy etyczne i ryzyko w badaniach terenowych. Przegląd Socjologii Jakościowej, 12(3), 6-21.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Research Involving Children: <https://ethics.grad.ucl.ac.uk/forms/guidance1.pdf>
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Shaw, C., Brady L.-M. & Davey C. (2011). Guidelines for Research with Children and Young People. London: NCB Research Centre. Retrieved from: https://www.nfer.ac.uk/nfer/schools/developing-young-researchers/NCBguidelines.pdf (accessed: January 5, 2019).
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Smith, A.B. (2007). Children as social actors: An introduction. International Journal of Childrens Rights, 15.1.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Spivak, G. (2013). Can the subaltern speak? In: P. Williams, & L. Chrisman (Eds.), Colonial discourse and post-colonial theory. The reader (pp. 66-111). Oxon: Routledge.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Spivak, G.C. (1988). Can the subaltern speak? Reflections on the history of an idea, In: C. Nelson, & L. Grossberg (Eds), Marxism and the Interpretation of Culture (pp. 21-78). London: Macmillan.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Spyrou, S. (2011). The limits of children’s voices: From authenticity to critical, reflexive representation. Childhood, 18(2), 151-165.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Therien, J. P. (1999). Beyond the North-South divide: the two tales of world poverty. Third World Quarterly, 20(4), 723-742.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Therien, J.-P. (2010). Beyond the North-South divide: The two tales of world poverty. Third World Quarterly, 20 (4), 723-742. doi: 10.1080/01436599913523.
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Twum-Danso Imoh, A., Bourdillon, M., & Meichsner, S. (2019). Introduction: Exploring Children’s Lives Beyond the Binary of the Global North and Global South. In: A. Imoh Twum-Danso, M. Bourdillon, & S. Meichsner, Global Childhoods beyond the North-South Divide (pp. 1-10). Palgrave Macmillan.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Twum-Danso, A. (2009). Situating participatory methodologies in context: the impact of culture on adult-child interactions in research and other projects. Children’s Geographies, 7(4), 379-389. DOI: 10.1080/14733280903234436.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article

The ethical dilemmas of research with children from the countries of the Global South. Whose participation?

Abstract

Paradigm

My account