WASP (write a scientific paper) : ethnography with children : some considerations

Abstract

This paper introduces the key methodological challenges related to working with children within an ethnographic research design. After briefly identifying in-depth contextually rich data as the key aim of any ethnographic research, some of the particular challenges related to working with children are explored. These are described along two key axes: ethical issues related to power dynamics loaded in favour of the adult researcher, and practical, logistical barriers to generating data that are a true reflection of the young child's ideas and beliefs. ‘Process assent’ and ‘ethical symmetry’ are flagged as the key means of optimising ethicality, while the benefits of using the ‘least adult role’, and creative child centric activities are outlined as ways to generating and collecting trustworthy data.