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Debra Harwood
Brock University
Grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them. -de Saint-Exupéry, A. (2000)
Children have a long history of being the object of study across several research
disciplines (psychology, education, sociology). Typically, studies on children have
tended to assess concepts, experimental approaches, theories or interventions with
little consideration given to children’s voices within that research (Hill, Laybourn, &
Borland, 1996; Scott, 2008).
Increasingly, within the various research communities, there has been a shift toward
conducting research with children rather than on children to gain insight into what is
meaningful and significant to children themselves (Clark, 2005; Clark 2007). As such,
several scholars acknowledge four perspectives in conducting research on children:
child as object, child as subject, child as social actor, and child as participant or co-participant
(Alderson, 2008; Christensen & Prout, 2002; Christensen & James, 2008).
Yet, despite recent research trends of including children’s perspectives, many academic
disciplines are steeped in a traditional approach of perceiving the child as object,
a dependent and vulnerable being in need of protection. This article discusses the
methodological choices and tensions I experienced as an early childhood education
doctoral student as I endeavoured to negotiate a participatory role for young children’s
voices within a research agenda that focused on sibling teasing (Harwood, 2008a).
Australasian Journal of Early Childhood – Volume 35 No 4 December 2010
Don't forget, Australasian Journal of Early Childhood is tax deductible for early childhood professionals
You can purchase this issue of the Australasian Journal of Early Childhood now.
Australasian Journal of Early Childhood – Volume 35 No 4 December 2010
Don't forget, Australasian Journal of Early Childhood is tax deductible for early childhood professionals
You can purchase this issue of the Australasian Journal of Early Childhood now.
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