Using puppetry to elicit children's talk for research

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Pediatric Oncology Support

Background:

• Puppets are utilized across various disciplines, including clinical and community settings.
• Limited literature exists on the application of puppets as a communication tool specifically within research contexts.
• This study addresses the gap by exploring puppet use in pediatric research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically review the literature on puppet use in research.
• To integrate puppet use within a qualitative study on children's experiences at a cancer camp.
• To discuss methodological and ethical considerations of using puppets for data collection with children.

Main Methods:

• A critical literature review was conducted.
• Puppets were integrated as a data collection technique in a qualitative research study.
• The study explored children's perspectives and responses to a camp for children with cancer.

Main Results:

• Puppet use in interviews with children appears to facilitate the identification, clarification, and verbalization of feelings.
• The study highlights the potential of puppets to enhance communication with child participants.
• Methodological and ethical considerations for using puppets in child research were discussed.

Conclusions:

• Despite some limitations, puppets can be a valuable tool for qualitative research involving children.
• Using puppets can improve the ability of children to articulate their emotions and experiences.
• Further research is warranted to explore the full potential and ethical implementation of puppets in child-centered research.