Ethical Issues in Participatory Research with Children and Young People

Research with children and young people is underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) which states children and young people have the right to have a say on things that concern them (Article 12) in a way that they feel they can best express themselves (Article 13). At a practical and ethical level, this means that concerns around children and young people’s vulnerability should not limit their participation in research. Rather, researchers (and policy makers, health professionals, educationalists, etc.) should find ways and methods of including children and young people in research that upholds their views on things that are important to them, whilst offering safe passage in doing this. Not including children and young people in research can result in harm when their views are not taken into account in policy, program, service planning and delivery; diminish their autonomy; and result in interventions that may not reflect the needs of children and young people as the end user. This chapter offers insights into some of the ethical considerations when undertaking participatory research with children and young people, including questions of participation, representation, diversity, cultural contexts, dissemination, digital spaces as well as the “nuts and bolts” of research. This includes discussions on informed consent, assent, and dissent, the role of gate keepers, preparing children and youth researchers to undertake participatory research, and renumeration and dissemination of findings.