The challenges of conducting ethical research with children

Abstract

The conduct of timely, ethical and reliable research in matters directly affecting children and childhood is of increasing importance to contemporary research communities. However, the challenges of seeking ways in which to include children’s perspectives requires critical deliberations and is beneficial at all stages of the research endeavour, from conceptualisation through to dissemination. This paper seeks to identify some of the ethical and methodological considerations of this type of research and propose ways in which the research process can be enhanced through the careful examination of key markers in that process.