Eliciting children's voices in qualitative research

Area of Science:

• Child Development Research
• Qualitative Methodologies
• Pediatric Healthcare

Background:

• Incorporating children as informants in qualitative research requires specific considerations distinct from adult participants.
• Understanding children's perspectives is crucial for accurate data collection in various research fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the challenges and techniques associated with using preschool and elementary-school-age children as informants in qualitative research.
• To provide insights for researchers and clinicians on effectively gathering children's perspectives.

Main Methods:

• A literature review was conducted examining studies on children, qualitative research with child informants, and methods for eliciting children's views.
• Key themes explored included children's competence, power dynamics, and communication styles.

Main Results:

• Qualitative research with children necessitates addressing beliefs about their competence and navigating adult-child power imbalances.
• Adapting communication styles and employing specific techniques are vital for enabling children to express themselves effectively.
• Research techniques differ significantly when compared to studies involving adult participants.

Conclusions:

• This review enhances occupational therapy researchers' understanding of children as informants.
• Practical strategies are provided to amplify children's voices in both research and clinical settings.
• The findings support strengthening children's participation and self-expression in therapeutic contexts.