what do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? rachel ormston 3 july 2008

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What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

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Page 1: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

What do children and young people think about taking part in

surveys?

Rachel Ormston

3 July 2008

Page 2: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

Today’s seminarToday’s seminar

• Rationale for the study

• Broad methodology

• Some findings

• Concluding thoughts...

Page 3: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

Study aimsStudy aims

• Perspectives of children on taking part in survey research

• ‘Ethical’ issues

• Addressing two key gaps

• Survey research

• Children’s perspectives

Page 4: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

Study designStudy design

• 8 focus groups in 4 London schools

• Ages 7/8, 9/10, 12/13, 14/15

• 6 or 8 participants; boys and girls together

• 1 or 1.5 hours on school premises

• Use of video stimuli to explore key issues

Page 5: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

What we discussed with the What we discussed with the childrenchildren

• Decisions about taking part in surveys

• Who should have a say?

• How can we ensure ‘informed’ consent?

• Incomplete information

• Ending interviews early, refusing questions, withdrawing data

• Privacy and presence of others

• Confidentiality & disclosure

Page 6: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

Decisions about taking part: key Decisions about taking part: key questionsquestions

• Who should have a say in whether you take part? Or,

what’s the role of parents?

• What would influence your decision to say yes or no?

• What information do you need in order to decide? Or,

what constitutes ‘informed’ consent?

Page 7: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

Who should have a say - and Who should have a say - and why? why?

• Factors influencing children’s views include …• Children’s rights as subjects

• Parents’ rights of control

• Parental protection from (perceived) risks

• Age of the child

• Where the interview is held

• Interview topic

• Should parents or children be approached first?

Page 8: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

What would influence your What would influence your decision to say yes or no? decision to say yes or no?

• Factors influencing children’s views included …

• Salience of the interview topic • Value of research• Beliefs about confidentiality• Feeling comfortable about the interviewer• Do you have to take part?• Confidence and ‘feeling special’

Page 9: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

What information do you What information do you need to decide? need to decide?

• Background about the survey

• Practical arrangements

• What will happen to my answers?

• Role of verbal versus written information

Page 10: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

Incomplete information: key Incomplete information: key questionsquestions

• Why might you want to finish an interview early?

• Would you feel able to finish it early if you wanted to?

• Would you feel able to refuse particular questions?

• Why might you want to withdraw your answers later

on?

• Would you feel able to do so?

Page 11: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

Why might you want to finish Why might you want to finish an interview early?an interview early?

• Interviewer: behaviour, characteristics

• Interview: long, boring

• Questions: ‘private’, irrelevant, hard

Page 12: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

Would you feel able to finish Would you feel able to finish early if you wanted to?early if you wanted to?

• Barriers to ending focused around...• Expression: shyness / embarrassment / concern to be polite• Interviewer reaction• Guilt

• So, would they feel able to finish early?

Page 13: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

Would you feel able to refuse Would you feel able to refuse a particular question?a particular question?

• Reasons for refusal focused around... • questions being too personal• not knowing the answer• not understanding the question

• Spectrum of views on feasibility - easy and straightforward to too difficult

Page 14: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

Withdrawing answers later onWithdrawing answers later on

• Reasons for wanting to withdraw answers focused around -

• Correction

• Confidentiality

• Regret

• Should withdrawal being allowed?

• Would you feel able to ask to do this?

Page 15: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

Privacy: key questionsPrivacy: key questions

• Is it acceptable - or desirable - for someone else to be

present during the interview?

• What are the reasons for wanting privacy?

Page 16: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

Privacy and the presence of othersPrivacy and the presence of others

• Reasons for having others present

• Comfort

• Assistance and correction

• Safety

• Reasons for doing interview in private

• Confidentiality

• Embarrassment

• Distraction or irritation

• Sensitive or personal topics

Page 17: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

Confidentiality: key questionsConfidentiality: key questions

• Is it ever acceptable to pass on someone’s answers?

• How do you decide when it’s acceptable or not?

Page 18: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

ConfidentialityConfidentiality

• ‘Wide’ vs. ‘narrow’ views if justified to breach...• Wide – stealing, problems with schoolwork, any bullying• Narrow – should not disclose self-harm or parental abuse

• Key considerations• What was promised?• Has child agreed to disclosure?• An ‘important’ issue?• Potential outcomes?• Alternatives to telling?

Page 19: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

Concluding thoughtsConcluding thoughts

• Sensitive or personal topics

• Right or wrong answers

• Role of the survey interviewer

• Information about their characteristics

• Offering advice

• Explanation and clarification

Page 20: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008

Full report on NatCen websiteFull report on NatCen website

‘Children’s perspectives on participating in survey research’

(2007) by Alice Reeves, Caroline Bryson, Rachel Ormston

and Clarissa White, NatCen: London (ISBN: 978-1-904599-

79-1)

www.natcen.ac.uk/pages/publications/

children_perspectives_on_participating.pdf

[email protected], Tel 0131 221 2567

Page 21: What do children and young people think about taking part in surveys? Rachel Ormston 3 July 2008