What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys?
What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys?. Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008. Today’s seminar. Rationale for the study Broad methodology Some findings Concluding thoughts. Study aims. Perspectives of children on taking part in survey research ‘Ethical’ issues
What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys?
E N D
Presentation Transcript
What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008
Today’s seminar • Rationale for the study • Broad methodology • Some findings • Concluding thoughts...
Study aims • Perspectives of children on taking part in survey research • ‘Ethical’ issues • Addressing two key gaps • Survey research • Children’s perspectives
Study design • 8 focus groups in 4 London schools • Ages 7/8, 9/10, 12/13, 14/15 • 6 or 8 participants; boys and girls together • 1 or 1.5 hours on school premises • Use of video stimuli to explore key issues
What we discussed with the children • Decisions about taking part in surveys • Who should have a say? • How can we ensure ‘informed’ consent? • Incomplete information • Ending interviews early, refusing questions, withdrawing data • Privacy and presence of others • Confidentiality & disclosure
Decisions about taking part: key questions • Who should have a say in whether youtake part? Or, what’s the role of parents? • What would influence your decision to say yes or no? • What information do you need in order to decide? Or, what constitutes ‘informed’ consent?
Who should have a say - and why? • Factors influencing children’s views include … • Children’s rights as subjects • Parents’ rights of control • Parental protection from (perceived) risks • Age of the child • Where the interview is held • Interview topic • Should parents or children be approached first?
What would influence your decision to say yes or no? • Factors influencing children’s views included … • Salience of the interview topic • Value of research • Beliefs about confidentiality • Feeling comfortable about the interviewer • Do you have to take part? • Confidence and ‘feeling special’
What information do you need to decide? • Background about the survey • Practical arrangements • What will happen to my answers? • Role of verbal versus written information
Incomplete information: key questions • Why might you want to finish an interview early? • Would you feel able to finish it early if you wanted to? • Would you feel able to refuse particular questions? • Why might you want to withdraw your answers later on? • Would you feel able to do so?
Why might you want to finish an interview early? • Interviewer: behaviour, characteristics • Interview: long, boring • Questions: ‘private’, irrelevant, hard
Would you feel able to finish early if you wanted to? • Barriers to ending focused around... • Expression: shyness / embarrassment / concern to be polite • Interviewer reaction • Guilt • So, would they feel able to finish early?
Would you feel able to refuse a particular question? • Reasons for refusal focused around... • questions being too personal • not knowing the answer • not understanding the question • Spectrum of views on feasibility - easy and straightforward to too difficult
Withdrawing answers later on • Reasons for wanting to withdraw answers focused around - • Correction • Confidentiality • Regret • Should withdrawal being allowed? • Would you feel able to ask to do this?
Privacy: key questions • Is it acceptable - or desirable - for someone else to be present during the interview? • What are the reasons for wanting privacy?
Privacy and the presence of others • Reasons for having others present • Comfort • Assistance and correction • Safety • Reasons for doing interview in private • Confidentiality • Embarrassment • Distraction or irritation • Sensitive or personal topics
Confidentiality: key questions • Is it ever acceptable to pass on someone’s answers? • How do you decide when it’s acceptable or not?
Confidentiality • ‘Wide’ vs. ‘narrow’ views if justified to breach... • Wide – stealing, problems with schoolwork, any bullying • Narrow – should not disclose self-harm or parental abuse • Key considerations • What was promised? • Has child agreed to disclosure? • An ‘important’ issue? • Potential outcomes? • Alternatives to telling?
Concluding thoughts • Sensitive or personal topics • Right or wrong answers • Role of the survey interviewer • Information about their characteristics • Offering advice • Explanation and clarification
Full report on NatCen website • ‘Children’s perspectives on participating in survey research’ (2007) by Alice Reeves, Caroline Bryson, Rachel Ormston and Clarissa White, NatCen: London (ISBN: 978-1-904599-79-1) • www.natcen.ac.uk/pages/publications/ • children_perspectives_on_participating.pdf • r.ormston@scotcen.org.uk, Tel 0131 221 2567