Children's Agentic Positioning in Research: A Critical Examination of Participatory Research Methodologies With Young Children

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

Across the fields of education and childhood studies there has been an increasing interest in creating spaces of participatory collaboration with children and teenagers. Less explored is the design and implementation of participatory approaches to researching with young children in the early childhood years. The unique issues that arise during participatory work with young children – ethical considerations, limitations in individual agency, power inequities, and emerging communication abilities -warrant a session dedicated to exploring participatory practices as applied across a diverse body of early learning settings. This session creates the space for researchers working with young children to explore understandings of participatory work grounded in critical, post-developmental, post-structural, and social constructivist theories through arts-based, interview, observational, and action research methodologies.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Early Education and Child Development

Chair

• Angela L. Eckhoff, Old Dominion University

Papers

• Participatory Research With Young Children From Special Populations: Special Considerations When Designing and Implementing Research - Jennifer E. Urbach, University of Northern Colorado; Rashida Banerjee, University of Denver

• Children's Agency and Voice in Digital Portfolio Work in Finnish Early Childhood Education - Kristiina P. Kumpulainen, University of Helsinki; Najat Ouakrim-Soivio, University of Helsinki

• Laughter and Dragons: Participatory Interviewing Considerations When Researching With Children - Krista Griffin, Metropolitan State University of Denver

• Closing the Research Loop: Supporting Children's Engagement During Data Analysis and Active Dissemination Practices - Angela L. Eckhoff, Old Dominion University

• What Children Know: Counter-Storytelling to Disrupt Castrated Curriculum, Estranged Labor, and Production of Commodified Children - Sheri L. Leafgren, Miami University

Discussant

• Jennifer E. Urbach, University of Northern Colorado