Expanding the role of young people in research: towards a better understanding of their lives.
View/ Open
Date
2014Author
Daniels, Natasha
Burke, Lorraine
O’Donnell, Anne
McGovern, Olive
Kelly, Colette
D’Eath, Maureen
Nic Gabhainn, Saoirse
Metadata
Show full item recordUsage
This item's downloads: 111 (view details)
Recommended Citation
Daniels, N., Burke, L., O’Donnell, A., McGovern, O., Kelly, C., D’Eath, M., Gabhainn, S. (2014). Expanding the role of young people in research: Towards a better understanding of their lives. Public Health and Governance, 2014, 36-44. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4467/20842627OZ.14.004.2896
Published Version
Abstract
The participation of young people in the research process can be empowering for the participants and valuable for the research outcomes. This paper presents the methods used and outcomes of involving youth in the development of priorities for the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children
study in Ireland.
Two participative workshops were conducted with young people: the first focused on identifiying what is important for people to understand
about young people’s lives; the second served to expand and prioritise the themes identified, for the purpose of developing questionnaire items. Following idea generation, discussion and voting four themes emerged as priorities. These were; ‘Diversity and Individuality’, ‘Independence’, ‘Mental
Health’ and ‘Bullying’.
The process enabled young people to prioritise dimensions of their lives that deserved further quantitative research attention. The findings of the
study identify the potential of such a methodology to transform the path of any research project concerning young people.