Ethical Considerations When Researching with Children

This assignment will fundamentally be looking at th
e ethical issues that need to be
considered and taken into account when children and
young people are involved in
research as co-researchers. The essay will begin by
looking at what is meant by
'ethical considerations' and why ethics are crucial
in research. It will then look at how
children   as   participants   and   co-researchers   in   rese
arch   has   come   to   be   about
looking at the 1989 UNCRC agreement and its 3P's of
participation and how this
relates to an existing framework of research ethics
. 3 ethical considerations that
need   to   be   taken   into   account   will   be   examined   clos
ely.   These   3   ethical
considerations will be: obtaining informed consent,
listening to children's views and
voices and the need for researchers to be un-bias a
nd reflective during the research
process. We will draw upon module readings and rese
arch to support our views and
arguments. The power struggles that exist between a
dult and children will be a key
underlying factor when analysing research ethics an
d the participation of children in
research.
Ethical questions are significant in all aspects of
the research process from planning
to   the   delivery   of   its   findings.   Research   should   fo
llow   a   correct   framework   that
encourages researchers to follow moral principles w
hich informs them of what may
be considered right and wrong. When researching wit
h children and young people
their rights and opinions need to be considered in
order to conduct the research out
in a moral way in order to . . ' foster, promote, d
irect, support and legislate 'good
practice' . . . ' (Horton, 2008, p.367).
The 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of
the Child (UNCRC) is an
international human rights treaty that grants all c
hildren and young people a set of
rights   which   promotes   children's   rights   of   provisio
n,   protection   and   participation....