Defusing researcher-participant power relations in focus groups with children

Abstract

Introduction: Defusing researcher-participant power relations is an ethical issue that needs addressing when inviting children to participate in research, particularly for focus groups, in order to truly hear children’s voices. Research Question: The focus of this presentation was on methodological insights obtained from a mixed methods study that included 6 focus groups with children about their sensemaking of online risks. Design: A mixed-methods approach was used to understand children’s social representations of online risks. Focus groups were the most appropriate tool as they provided access to the shared sense-making children have of such risks. Sample: 49 children aged 9- 12 divided into 6 focus groups Data collection and analysis: 6 focus groups, researcher reflection. Results: Issues such as assent, the setting where the focus groups are conducted, the researcher’s behaviour during the focus groups, audio recording and confidentiality must be addressed carefully and critically to ensure that children are at ease during the discussion and feel able to contribute freely to the conversation, without any pressured from the researcher. In these focus groups, the researcher needed to find a balance between being a researcher and a trusted individual with whom children felt comfortable sharing their experience of online risks.