‘We are like dictionaries, Miss, you can look things up in us’: evaluating child-centred research methods

Elton-Chalcraft, Sally ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3064-7249 (2011) ‘We are like dictionaries, Miss, you can look things up in us’: evaluating child-centred research methods. Education 3-13, 39 (2). pp. 187-202. Item availability may be restricted.

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Abstract

Research concerning children is often presented with only a brief comment on the research methods adopted. This paper takes a ‘behind the scenes’ view and I discuss my adoption of a non-hierarchical ‘least adult role’ adapted from Mandell's work in 1991 to undertake qualitative research in the sensitive area of children's multicultural awareness in two high-proportion minority ethnic schools and two schools with a predominantly white intake. I discuss my approach as a ‘traveller’ rather than a ‘miner’ and the use of jelly beans and Bean Sheet to gauge the children's perceptions of their multicultural awareness. The value placed on the role of the child in the research design and implementation is examined, and I evaluate the advantages and limitations of adopting such child-centred approaches for the teacher researcher.

Item Type:	Article
Journal / Publication Title:	Education 3-13
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis (Routledge) for Association for the Study of Primary Education (ASPE)
ISSN:	1475-7575
Departments:	Academic Departments > Institute of Education (IOE) > Initial Teacher Education (ITE) > Early Years and Primary Undergraduate Partnership QG
Depositing User:	Insight Administrator
Date Deposited:	14 Oct 2011 13:14
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2024 10:01
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/566