Child-led research, children's rights and childhood studies: A defence. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thomas, Nigel Patrick
• Is Part Of: Childhood. Volume 28:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 186
• Page End: 199
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: Childhood studies -- child-led research -- children's agency -- children's competence -- children's rights; Children -- Periodicals; Child development -- Periodicals; Children -- Research -- Periodicals; 305.23
• DOI: 10.1177/0907568221996743
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0907-5682

Abstract

Recent articles by Kim and Hammersley have critiqued, respectively: the methodological and normative assumptions that underlie research 'by' children; claims made about the implications of children's rights for the ethics of research with children; and more broadly, some of the central commitments of Childhood Studies. This paper offers a response to these critiques, seeking to distinguish between those that clearly should be accepted, those that appear to be based on a misreading of the claims being made by scholars and researchers, and those that represent serious challenges to defend, redefine or rethink our aims, claims or practices.