An exploration of children and young people's involvement in decision-making and of the skills linked to high-level participation : co-researching with children and young people from participation groups in one local authority.

摘要

This research examined the nature of participation and involvement of children udand young people in decision-making processes, both within participation udgroups and also as co-researchers. The research explored whether children and udyoung people's decision-making in participation groups was 'tokenistic' or ud'active,' through examining the nature and level of decision-making. Skills linked udto eo-research and decision-making in participation groups were identified by udparticipants. udThe research was located in a Social Constructionist Framework. A case study udmethodology was used with an 'embedded single case' design. Interviews were udthe key methods used and the phased data collection involved four participation udgroups. The Participatory Research Approach involved co-researchers in the uddesign, interviews and analysis. udThe method of analysis involved combining Boyatzis's (1998) Thematic Analysis udapproach with Attride-Stirling's (2001) Thematic Networks. A number of themes udwere identified which are further discussed in terms of the literature reviewed. udGlobal themes were 'Decision-Making and Power', 'Inclusion and Equity' and ud'Skill Development'. udThe research identified features for high-level of involvement in decision- udmaking, as reported by the children and young people in participation groups udand in the research. Transfer of decision-making to other children and young udpeople was a development area and supportive of inclusion. Key skills linked to udresearch involvement were similar to skills related to high-level participation. udPractice suggestions include embedding high-level youth decision-making within udEducation and Educational Psychology practice. ud