Research with children living in situations of armed conflict: concepts, ethics and methods

Importance of participatory research on children in conflict situations

By: Hart J & Tyrer B
Published by: Refugee Studies Centre (RSC), Oxford , 2006
Via: Eldis

Research about children’s lives conducted in the volatile setting of armed conflict places particular demands upon researchers. The suggestion that researchers should, whenever possible and appropriate, involve children as meaningful participants in that research may seem unreasonable or inappropriate. However, this paper argues that participatory research for children in conflict situations is especially valuable because of the emergency context.

The authors emphasise that firstly, such an approach is likely to yield richer and more detailed data than a conventional, adult-led approach. These data can be invaluable to the design of interventions. Secondly, engagement in well-planned research activities can offer direct benefits for young participants by enhancing their skills and awareness. In settings of conflict where the young may be required to play an expanded role in their own protection and in the care of others, their personal development is especially important.

The aim of the paper is to equip researchers to most safely and profitably pursue participatory research with children and, to that end, this paper explores the specific conceptual, ethical and methodological issues concerned.