Involving Young Service Users as Co-Researchers in Evaluating Service Provision: Perils, Potential and Limitations

Dr Hugh McLaughlin

University of Salford

Reasons for involving young people in research

Range and quality of data enhancedYP speak a common languageYP raise issues with other young people they would not raise with an adultYP have ownership of the findingsYP presenting own findings have greater impactArticle 12 UN Convention on the Rights of the ChildSelf- confidence, self esteem and employability

Assumptive worlds behind involving children and young people

As objects

As subjects

As social actors

As active participants

Christensen, P. and Prout, A (2002) ’Working with Ethical Symmetry in Social Research with Children,’ Childhood, 9(4): 477-97

Exemplar

NSPCC’s Young People’s Centres

CP system failing to meet needs of yp

Significant no. of yp tell no one of abuse

Current system in UK over-influenced by criminal justice system

One stop-shop

Research Aims

Recruit up to 8 young co-researchersProvide young co-researchers with a structured programme in understanding research and to develop skills in research practiceTo develop research instruments with young co-researchersCollect, analyse data and identify generalisable conclusions and issues for practice and policyProduce a written reportPublicise findings

Perils

Legal Issues

Recruitment

Training

Writing Up

Confidentiality

The unexpected

Timescales and resources

Ethical Considerations

Exploitation

Use and Valuing of Work

Child Protection

Confidentiality

Unanticipated risks

Ethics Committee

Potential

5 YPC’s

Documentation

Semi-structured interviews with yp and staff

Staff focus group

Mystery shopper exercise

Potential 2

Reviewing progress, issues and ideas after each venue

Conference

Report

Meeting national managers

Action plan

Limitations?

Methodology

Process v outcome

Knowledge generated

More researcher than service user

Outcomes v process

Final Thoughts

Not a panacea

Preparation essential

Not ‘cheap’

Hard work

Fun

Legitimate form of social research – powerful messages

Useful PublicationsFraser, S. Lewis, V. Ding, S. Kellet, M. and Robinson, C. (eds.) (2004) Doing Research with Children and Young People, London: Sage

Kirby, P. (2004) A Guide to Involving Young People as Researchers, Eastleigh: Involve , www.invo.org.ukLewis, A. and Lindsay, G. (eds.) (2000) Researching Children’s Perspectives, Buckingham: Open University Press

McLaughlin, H. (forthcoming) Involving Young Service Users as Co-researchers: Possibilities, benefits and costs, British Journal of Social Work.

McLaughlin, H. (2005) Young service users as co-researchers: methodological problems and possibilities; Qualitative Research, 4: (2) 211-228.

McLaughlin, H. et al. (2004) Willing Participants, Community Care, 17-23rd March, p36-7

Smith, R. Monaghan, M. and Broad, B. (2002) ‘Involving Young People as Co-Researchers’, Qualitative Social Work, 1 (2) 191-207