Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Respectful Research With and About Young Families pp 111–148Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Knock, Knock! Who’s There? Opening the Door to Creating Ethical, Respectful, and Participatory Research Spaces with Young Families

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 327 Accesses

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Education Research Methods ((PSERM))

Abstract

Researching with family members offers an unprecedented opportunity for family scholars to explore new understandings of the lived experiences and a range of other phenomena associated with young children, parents, and significant carers. However, due to the busy and very private nature of family life, being invited into these domestic spaces, and entering into dialogical relationships with others, is a privilege. This chapter contributes to this topic by drawing upon the authors’ empirical research, her collaborative research with colleagues. The intent is that by addressing such topics readers are afforded opportunities to more deeply consider the meaning of ‘participation’ in qualitative research and to critically consider how this translates to ethical, respectful, and meaningful research with young families.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Note that it is beyond the scope of this text to address in-depth ethical considerations and associated details regarding research with young children. I would argue that there are many excellent books and papers that already address this topic with great expertise and consideration (see Alderson & Morrow, 2011; Dockett, Einarsdottir, & Perry, 2009a; Dockett & Perry, 2011; Gallagher, 2009; Harcourt & Einarsdóttir, 2011; Harcourt, Perry, & Waller, 2011; Morrow, 2013; Phelan & Kinsella, 2013; Powell, Fitzgerald, Taylor, & Graham, 2012). So key points in this chapter will focus on ‘family members’, rather than specifically addressing young children and their involvement in research.

References

  • Alderson, P., & Morrow, V. (2011). The ethics of research with children and young people: A practical handbook. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnstein, S. R. (1969). A ladder of citizen participation. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 35(4), 216–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baxter, J. (2016). The modern Australian family. Retrieved from Melbourne, VIC. https://aifs.gov.au/sites/default/files/families-week2016-final-20160517.pdf

  • Bergold, J., & Thomas, S. (2012). Participatory research methods: A methodological approach in motion. Historical Social Research/Historische Sozialforschung, 13(1), 191–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bermúdez, J. M., Muruthi, B., & Jordan, L. (2016). Decolonizing research methods for family science: Creating space at the centre – Decolonizing research practices. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 8(2), 192–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, A., & Danaher, P. A. (2012, December 2–6). Respectful, responsible and reciprocal ruralities research: Approaching and positioning educational research differently within Australian rural communities. Paper presented at the In: Joint International Conference of the Australian Association for Research in Education and the Asia Pacific Educational Research Association (AARE 2012): Regional and Global Cooperation in Educational Research, 2–6 Dec, Sydney, NSW.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, A., & Danaher, P. A. (2017). CHE Principles: Facilitating authentic and dialogical semi-structured interviews in educational research. International Journal of Research & Method in Education, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743727X.2017.13799.

  • Brown, A., Danaher, P. A., Kenny, M., Hyland, S., Levinson, M., & Quvang, C. (2016). Leading educational research: Innovative methodologies that maximise rapport and reciprocity in ways that are ethical and empowering (Symposium). Paper presented at the European Conference on Educational Research, Dublin, Ireland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bushin, N. (2009). Researching family migration decision making: A children-in-families approach. Population, Space and Place, 15(5), 429–443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chung, K., & Lounsbury, D. W. (2006). The role of power, process, and relationships in participatory research for statewide HIV/AIDS programming. Social Science & Medicine, 63(8), 2129–2140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, A., & Moss, P. (2005). Spaces to play: More listening to young children using the Mosaic approach. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, A., & Moss, P. (2011). Listening to young children: The Mosaic approach (2nd ed.). London: National Children’s Bureau and Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2013). Research methods in education (7th ed.). New York: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, T. (2012). Where participatory approaches meet pragmatism in funded (health) research: The challenge of finding meaningful spaces. Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 13(1), 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornwall, A. (2008). Unpacking ‘participation’: Models, meanings and practices. Community Development Journal, 43(3), 269–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cutcliffe, J. R., & Ramcharan, P. (2002). Leveling the playing field? Exploring the merits of the ethics-as-process approach for judging qualitative research proposals. Qualitative Health Research, 12(7), 1000–1010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daly, K. J. (2007). Qualitative methods for family studies and human development. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Fina, A., & Perrino, S. (2011). Introduction: Interviews vs. ‘natural’ contexts: A false dilemma. Language in Society, 40(1), 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dockett, S., Perry, B., Kearney, E., Hamshire, A., Mason, J., & Schmied, V. (2009). Researching with families: Ethical issues and situations. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 10(4), 353–365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dockett, S., & Perry, B. (2011). Researching with young children: Seeking assent. Child Indicators Research, 4(2), 231–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dussel, E. (1997). The architectonic of the ethics of liberation. In D. Bastone, E. Mendiete, L. A. Lorentzen, & D. N. Hopkins (Eds.), Liberation theologies, postmodernity and the Americas (pp. 273–304). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dussel, E. (1998). Ética de la Liberación en la Edad de la Globalización y de la Exclusión. Madrid, Spain: Trotta.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, C., Gandini, L., & Forman, G. (1998). The hundred languages of children: The Reggio Emilia approach advanced reflections (2nd ed.). Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, R., & Mauthner, M. (2012). Ethics and feminist research: Theory and practice. In T. Miller, M. Birch, M. Mauthner, & J. Jessop (Eds.), Ethics in qualitative research (2nd ed., pp. 14–28). London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, C. (2007). Telling secrets, revealing lives: Relational ethics in research with intimate others. Qualitative Inquiry, 13(1), 3–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • England, K. (1994). Getting personal: Reflexivity, positionality, and feminist research. The Professional Geographer, 46(1), 80–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fenton, A., Walsh, K., Wong, S., & Cumming, T. (2015). Using strengths-based approaches in early years practice and research. International Journal of Early Childhood, 47(1), 27–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foster, V., & Young, A. (2015). Reflecting on participatory methodologies: Research with parents of babies requiring neonatal care. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 18(1), 91–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gabb, J. (2009). Researching family relationships: A qualitative mixed methods approach. Methodological Innovations Online, 4(2), 37–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gabb, J. (2010). Home truths: Ethical issues in family research. Qualitative Research, 10(4), 461–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gabb, J., & Singh, R. (2015). The uses of emotion maps in research and clinical practice with families and couples: Methodological innovation and critical inquiry. Family Process, 54(1), 185–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gallacher, L.-A., & Gallagher, M. (2008). Methodological immaturity in childhood research? Thinking through participatory methods. Childhood, 15(4), 499–516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gallagher, M. (2009). Ethics. In K. Tisdall, J. M. Davis, & M. Gallagher (Eds.), Researching with children and young people: Research design, methods and analysis (pp. 11–64). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Geia, L. K., Hayes, B., & Usher, K. (2013). Yarning/aboriginal storytelling: Towards an understanding of an Indigenous perspective and its implications for research practice. Contemporary Nurse, 46(1), 13–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerson, K., & Horowitz, R. (2002). Observation and interviewing: Options and choices in qualitative research. In T. May (Ed.), Qualitative research in action. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Given, L., Cantrell Winkler, D., Willson, R., Davidson, C., Danby, S., & Thorpe, K. (2016). Parents as coresearchers at home: Using an observational method to document young children’s use of technology. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 15(1), 1609406915621403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gorin, S., Hooper, C. A., Dyson, C., & Cabral, C. (2008). Ethical challenges in conducting research with hard to reach families. Child Abuse Review, 17(4), 275–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guillemin, M., & Gillam, L. (2004). Ethics, reflexivity, and “ethically important moments” in research. Qualitative Inquiry, 10(2), 261–280.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guillemin, M., & Heggen, K. (2009). Rapport and respect: Negotiating ethical relations between researcher and participant. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 12(3), 291–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammersley, M. (2015). On ethical principles for social research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 128(4), 433–449.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harcourt, D., & Einarsdóttir, J. (2011). Introducing children’s perspectives and participation in research. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 19(3), 301–307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harcourt, D., Perry, B., & Waller, T. (2011). Researching young children’s perspectives: Debating the ethics and dilemmas of educational research with children. New York: Taylor & Francis.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Harcourt, D., & Sargeant, J. (2012). Doing ethical research with children. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harden, J., Backett-Milburn, K., Hill, M., & MacLean, A. (2010). Oh, what a tangled web we weave: Experiences of doing ‘multiple perspectives’ research in families. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 13(5), 441–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hart, R. (1992). Children’s participation: From tokenism to citizenship. Retrieved from Florence, Italy. https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/childrens_participation.pdf

  • Hart, R. (2008). Stepping back from ‘the ladder’: Reflections on a model of participatory work with children. In Participation and learning (pp. 19–31). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Irvine, A., Drew, P., & Sainsbury, R. (2013). ‘Am I not answering your questions properly?’: Clarification, adequacy and responsiveness in semi-structured telephone and face-to-face interviews. Qualitative Research, 13(1), 87–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirby, P., Lanyon, C., Cronin, K., & Sinclair, R. (2003). Building a culture of participation: Involving children and young people in policy, service planning, delivery and evaluation. Retrieved from London. https://www.unicef.org/adolescence/cypguide/files/Building_a_culture_of_participation.pdf

  • Mannion, G. (2007). Going spatial, going relationational: Why “listening to children” and children’s participation needs reframing. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 28(3), 405–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mapedzahama, V., & Dune, T. (2017). A clash of paradigms? Ethnography and ethics approval. SAGE Open, 7(1), 2158244017697167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNeil, T. (2010). Family as a social determinant of health: Implications for governments and institutions to promote the health and well-being of families. Healthcare Quarterly, 14(Special Issue, Child Health Canada), 60–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, T., Birch, M., Mauthner, M., & Jessop, J. (2012). Introduction. In T. Miller, M. Birch, M. Mauthner, & J. Jessop (Eds.), Ethics in qualitative research (2nd ed.). London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohan, G. (2001). Beyond participation: Strategies for deeper empowerment. In B. Cooke & U. Kothari (Eds.), Participation: The new tyranny? London: Zed Boos.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrow, V. (2009). The ethics of social research with children and families in Young Lives: Practical experiences (Working paper no. 53). Retrieved from University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. https://www.younglives.org.uk/sites/www.younglives.org.uk/files/YL-WP53-Morrow-EthicsOfResearchWithChildren.pdf

  • Morrow, V. (2013). Practical ethics in social research with children and families in young lives: A longitudinal study of childhood poverty in Ethiopia, Andhra Pradesh (India), Peru and Vietnam. Methodological Innovations Online, 8(2), 21–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Health and Medical Research Council Australian Research Council. (2007). National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007) - Updated December 2015 (the National Statement). Retrieved from Canberra, ACT. https://nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/national-statement-ethical-conduct-human-research-2007-updated-2018

  • Palaiologou, I. (2012a). Ethical praxis when choosing research tools for use with children under five. In I. Palaiologou (Ed.), Ethical practice in early childhood (pp. 32–46). London: Sage.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Palaiologou, I. (2012b). Introduction: Towards an understanding of ethical practice in early childhood. In I. Palaiologou (Ed.), Ethical practice in early childhood (pp. 1–12). London: Sage.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Palaiologou, I. (2014). ‘Do we hear what children want to say?’ Ethical praxis when choosing research tools with children under five. Early Child Development and Care, 184(5), 689–705.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paris, D. (2011). ‘A friend who understand fully’: Notes on humanizing research in a multiethnic youth community. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 24(2), 137–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paris, D., & Winn, M. (Eds.). (2014). Humanizing research: Decolonizing qualitative inquiry with youth and communities. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phelan, S., & Kinsella, E. (2013). Picture this ... safety, dignity, and voice—Ethical research with children practical considerations for the reflexive researcher. Qualitative Inquiry, 19(2), 81–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powell, M. A., Fitzgerald, R. M., Taylor, N., & Graham, A. (2012). International literature review: Ethical issues in undertaking research with children and young people (Literature review for the Childwatch International Research Network). Retrieved from Lismore, NSW: Southern Cross University, Centre for Children and Young People/Dunedin, New Zealand: University of Otago, Centre for Research on Children and Families. http://epubs.scu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1041&context=ccyp_pubs

  • Reason, P., & Bradbury, H. (2008). Introduction. In P. Reason & H. Bradbury (Eds.), The Sage handbook of action research. Participative inquiry and practice (2nd ed., pp. 1–10). London: Sage.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rinaldi, C. (2006). In dialogue with Reggio Emilia: Listening, researching, and learning. London: Routledge Falmer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rizvi, S. (2017). Treading on eggshells: ‘Doing’ feminism in educational research. International Journal of Research & Method in Education, 1–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1743727X.2017.1399354

  • Roulston, K. (2014). Interactional problems in research interviews. Qualitative Research, 14(3), 277–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saleebey, D. (2012). The strengths perspective in social work practice (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shier, H. (2001). Pathways to participation: Openings, opportunities and obligations. Children & Society, 15(2), 107–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Somekh, B. (2002). Inhabiting each other’s castles: Towards knowledge and mutual growth through collaboration. In C. Day, J. Elliott, B. Somekh, & R. Winter (Eds.), Theory and practice in action research: Some international perspectives (pp. 79–104). Oxford, UK: Symposium Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sumsion, J., & Goodfellow, J. (2012). ‘Looking and listening-ein’: A methodological approach to generating insights into infants’ experiences of early childhood education and care settings. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 20(3), 313–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuck, E. (2016). In conversation with Michelle Fine. Inner angles: Of ethical responses to/with indigenous and decolonizing theories. In N. D. M. Giardina (Ed.), Ethical futures in qualitative research: Decolonizing the politics of knowledge (International congress of qualitative inquiry series) (pp. 145–168). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uttal, L. (2009). (Re)visioning family ties to communities and contexts. In S. A. Lloyd, A. L. Few, & K. R. Allen (Eds.), Handbook of feminist studies (pp. 134–146). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Vähäsantanen, K., & Saarinen, J. (2013). The power dance in the research interview: Manifesting power and powerlessness. Qualitative Researcher, 13(5), 493–510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Von Unger, H. (2012). Participatory health research: Who participates in what? Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung/Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 13(7), 1–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, M. T., Roche, B., von Unger, H., Block, M., & Gardner, B. (2010). A call for an international collaboration on participatory research for health. Health Promotion International, 25(1), 115–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yee, W. C., & Andrews, J. (2006). Professional researcher or a ‘good guest’? Ethical dilemmas involved in researching children and families in the home setting. Educational Review, 58(4), 397–413. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131910600971859.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield Central, QLD, Australia

    Alice Brown

Authors
  1. Alice Brown
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alice Brown .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Brown, A. (2019). Knock, Knock! Who’s There? Opening the Door to Creating Ethical, Respectful, and Participatory Research Spaces with Young Families. In: Respectful Research With and About Young Families. Palgrave Studies in Education Research Methods. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02716-2_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02716-2_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-02715-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-02716-2

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation