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

1
Involving Young Service Users as Co-Researchers
in Evaluating Service Provision Perils,
Potential and Limitations

• Dr Hugh McLaughlin
• University of Salford

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Reasons for involving young people in research

• Range and quality of data enhanced
• YP speak a common language
• YP raise issues with other young people they
  would not raise with an adult
• YP have ownership of the findings
• YP presenting own findings have greater impact
• Article 12 UN Convention on the Rights of the
  Child
• Self- confidence, self esteem and employability

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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

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Exemplar

• NSPCCs Young Peoples 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

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Research Aims

• Recruit up to 8 young co-researchers
• Provide young co-researchers with a structured
  programme in understanding research and to
  develop skills in research practice
• To develop research instruments with young
  co-researchers
• Collect, analyse data and identify generalisable
  conclusions and issues for practice and policy
• Produce a written report
• Publicise findings

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Perils

• Legal Issues
• Recruitment
• Training
• Writing Up
• Confidentiality
• The unexpected
• Timescales and resources

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Ethical Considerations

• Exploitation
• Use and Valuing of Work
• Child Protection
• Confidentiality
• Unanticipated risks
• Ethics Committee

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Potential

• 5 YPCs
• Documentation
• Semi-structured interviews with yp and staff
• Staff focus group
• Mystery shopper exercise

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Potential 2

• Reviewing progress, issues and ideas after each
  venue
• Conference
• Report
• Meeting national managers
• Action plan

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Limitations?

• Methodology
• Process v outcome
• Knowledge generated
• More researcher than service user
• Outcomes v process

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Final Thoughts

• Not a panacea
• Preparation essential
• Not cheap
• Hard work
• Fun
• Legitimate form of social research powerful
  messages

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Useful Publications

• Fraser, 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 Childrens 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