Research Methods For, By, and With Children

This page provides information on research methods designed to engage children as active participants in research about their lives, and help researchers authentically connect with children and capture their unique perspectives.

Doing research with children:

  • “A Kids World”: A Tool to Guide Interviewing with Children

    This tool was developed by Dr. Donna Koller for use in both research and clinical work. The visual can be used as a guide to allow children to visually speak to the various parts of their life, including their family, school and friendships.

  • Bernard van Leer Foundation (2014). Steps to engaging young children in research. Volume 2: The researcher toolkit. Retrieved from: https://issuu.com/bernardvanleerfoundation/docs/steps_for_engaging_young_children_2

  • Christensen, P., & James, A. (2017). Research with children (pp. 1-8). Taylor & Francis.

  • Daniels, S., Burns-Nader, S. & Boles, J. (2021). Research methods for child life specialists. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

  • Hickey-Moody, A., Horn, C., Willcox, M., & Florence, E. (2021). Arts-based methods for research with children. Springer Nature.

  • Tisdall, E. K. M., Gallagher, M., & Davis, J. E. (2008). Researching with children and young people: Research design, methods and analysis. The Journal of Educational Research 103(4):291-292.

  • Sevón, E., Mustola, M., Siippainen, A., & Vlasov, J. (2023). Participatory research methods with young children: a systematic literature review. Educational Review, 1-19.

Ethical Issues and Consent:

  • Alderson, P. (2005). Designing ethical research with children. Ethical research with children, 27-36.

  • Carnevale, F. Listening Authentically to Young People’s Voices: A Conception of the Moral Agency of Children1. Toward a moral horizon, 12, 425. Retrieved from: https://dspace.library.uvic.ca/items/b94e7193-a7dd-42ef-b551-5f31808291fb

  • Einarsdóttir, J. (2007). Research with children: Methodological and ethical challenges. EuropeaN Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 15(2), 197-211.

  • Macdonald, M. E., Bertrand, A., Brousseau-Bellavance, L., Bruder-Wexler, A., Liu, K., Rosberg, M., & Carnevale, F. A. (2023). Research, policy making, and practice with young people. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 114(2), 161-164.

  • Montreuil, M., Bogossian, A., Laberge-Perrault, E., & Racine, E. (2021). A review of approaches, strategies and ethical considerations in participatory research with children. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 20, 1609406920987962.

  • Sun, Y., Blewitt, C., Edwards, S., Fraser, A., Newman, S., Cornelius, J., & Skouteris, H. (2023). Methods and ethics in qualitative research exploring young children’s voice: A systematic review. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 22, 16094069231152449.