What young people report about the personal characteristics needed for social science research after carrying out their own investigations in an after-school club

Kerawalla, Lucinda and Messer, David J. (2018). What young people report about the personal characteristics needed for social science research after carrying out their own investigations in an after-school club. Educational Studies, 44(3) pp. 326–340.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03055698.2017.1373633

Abstract

Several arguments have been put forward about the benefits of young people carrying out their own social science research in terms of empowering their voices and their participation. Much less attention has been paid to investigating the understandings young people develop about the research process itself. Seven twelve-year-olds carried out self-directed social science research into a topic of their choice. Towards the end of their six months experience we used a questionnaire and follow-up semi-structured interviews to investigate, from a socio-cultural perspective, what the young people thought about being a researcher. Thematic analysis of the interviews identified three themes and eight subthemes suggesting that they were aware of: the need to demonstrate researcher/research integrity (be thorough, truthful, orderly, and have a good understanding of research process); the need for good interpersonal skills and standards; and good self-management skills (be resilient, agentic, committed, and good at time management). We discuss how first-hand social science research experience might: be relevant to several areas of schooling; give young people experience of the personal characteristics important for success; help young people to realise that they can be social science researchers, and offer advanced and novel learning experiences outside the constraints of the school curriculum.

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About

• Item ORO ID
• 51136
• Item Type
• Journal Item
• ISSN
• 0305-5698
• Project Funding Details

• Funded Project Name	Project ID	Funding Body
  The Open University (OU)	Not Set	The Open University (OU)

• Keywords
• Young researchers; social science research; child-led research; children's research centre; characteristics of researchers
• Academic Unit or School
• Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS)
• Research Group
• Childhood and Youth
• Copyright Holders
• © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
• Depositing User
• Lucinda Kerawalla