Researching children's health experiences: The place for participatory, child‐centered, arts‐based approaches

Abstract

A central concern when conducting qualitative health research with children is eliciting data that genuinely reflect their perspectives. Invariably, this involves being child-centered and participatory. Drawing and photography increasingly accompany dialogic methods to facilitate children's communication through arts-based and verbal modes of expression. However, little literature is available on how arts-based tools shape data. We suggest that researchers need to be attentive to how such tools can liberate, constrain and frame data generated by children, drawing attention to the promises of such approaches as well as the conundrums that can arise from their use. We explore the place for participatory, child-centered, arts-based approaches using examples of the use of drawing and photography in our own studies.

Auto-driven Photo Elicitation Interviews in Research with Children: Ethical and Practical Considerations

“…Our previous experience is that participatory, child-centered, visual-based approaches can facilitate the generation of quality data with children in a way that liberates their ability to express their views and perspectives (Carter & Ford, 2013). Conventional methods of collecting data such as focus groups and interviews may limit the depth of inquiry due to various factors including the child's reliance on verbal skills, answering questions posed from an adult point of reference, and their need to respond fairly immediately (Rapport, Wainwright, & Elwyn, 2005).…”

The Impact of a Sound Amplification System in a Preschool Setting: Children’s and Educators’ Perspectives

“…Both pre-and post-implementation of the sound enhancement system, children were provided with a self-completion booklet to record their perceptions of hearing and listening during whole group activities, through a combination of verbal, affective and visual/artsbased expression (Carter & Ford, 2013). This occurred during the normal classroom day at the discretion of the early childhood educators, with an aim to minimise disruption to the children's daily activities.…”

‘It was just like we were a family again’: play as a means to maintain family ties for children visiting an imprisoned parent

“…Children aged between 3-5 years were approached to participate as it was felt that those younger would be unable to complete the task. The draw and write approach is essentially a qualitative method for understanding how children construct ideas and concepts (Carter & Ford, 2013). The premise of the method is relatively straightforward in that children are invited to draw a picture and to write what is happening in the picture.…”

“…The premise of the method is relatively straightforward in that children are invited to draw a picture and to write what is happening in the picture. Where children are unable to write for themselves, adults can act as scribes (Carter & Ford, 2013). The 'draw and write' technique has been used extensively to explore the perceptions of younger children for whom more traditional research methods may not be appropriate (Pridmore, 1996).…”