Theorising the Participation of Children and Young People in Research

Abstract

In seeking to portray the conditions under which authentic consultation and dialogue with children and young people can take place the chapter turns to a number of cases where the rights of those taking part have been compromised, leading to a distortion of their voices. One of these is historical, a psychological experiment; another is contemporary in relation to an inspectorial process. We draw particular attention to a consideration of dialogue within a Habermasian framework that alludes to the notion of the “ideal speech situation” leading to a discussion of power and active citizenship. The chapter recognizes the context of the school within which consultation and participation may take place is governed by a number of micro-political considerations including who is included or excluded from the dialogue based upon positional power and authority particularly in the context of the audit society.