Unit 8: Research Methodology for Childrens Care Learning and Development

Topic: Ethics, rights and confidentiality in research

Learning outcomes:
To be able to consider how suitable your topic is with reference to ethical issues.
To be able to carry out the primary research and collect and record appropriate data
identifying any ethical implications as you carry out your research.
To be able to identify potential sources of bias or error and ethical considerations in
research methods and findings.
Starter Activity: Ethical case study
Read the case study & answer the questions about it.
Sarah is a second year early years learner doing work experience in a Year One class of the
primary school her younger brother attends. As part of her course she is required to carry
out a small-scale research project in [placement. Sarah has a particular interest in social
and emotional development and the impact on behaviour. Sarah wants to focus her study on
one child who sometimes displays aggressive behaviour towards the other children in the
class, including on one occasion towards her brother. She has outlined her project to her
tutor and placement supervisor saying that she is looking at social interactions between
children. She explains that she is going to use a child study and parental questionnaires as
the main methods of data collection.
Sarahs placement supervisor asks her to write a brief letters to the parents explaining the
research project she is planning and asking them to take part. However, because Sarah has
missed the deadline to hand in an outline of her research proposal to her tutor, she decides
to miss this stage of the process out. In her enthusiasm to catch up, Sarah speaks to the
class parents in small groups at the end of the day. She asks them their thoughts about
behaviour in the classroom and if they think any one child particularly displays aggressive
behaviour on a regular basis. To one group she openly discusses the incident involving her
brother.
Sarah uses her knowledge of how different situations can affect childrens behaviour to
formulate a questionnaire for the childs parents. The questionnaire includes personal
questions about the state of the parents marriage and employment situation. Sarah is
surprised when the family complains to the class teacher and she is asked to stop carrying
out her project.

Consider the following questions:

1. Did Sarah gain informed consent from all of the participants in her research
project?
2. Why is it important that consent is obtained?
3. Were the research methods chosen suitable for this project? Give reasons for
your answer.
4. Why do you think Sarah was asked to stop her investigations?
5. What advice would you give Sarah about how to resume her project?

CCLD Unit 8, Session 4,

Ethical considerations.

Helen Taylor.

Why do we need to know about ethical protocols?

What do we mean by ethical protocols?

Ethical protocols include:

Protocols or policies of the setting
Protocols or policies of the college
Demonstrating a high standard of behaviour
Acting in the childs best interests
You need to take into account:
Do you need any explicit authorization?
Getting all the necessary permissions
o formal permission from the person in charge of the setting
o formal permission from parents
The level of consultation needed
What information should be given to the setting
What information should be given to the participants
What information should be given to the parents & carers
What information you are actually trying to obtain
o Why you need the information
o Whether it is appropriate
Getting full approval from tutors & placement
Issues of negotiation
o Meeting the needs of participants
o Following an amendments to your original plans
How you will report the information
Reference: Page 162, Sandy Green.
Professional Practice
You should always have written permission from the parent or carer before undertaking
an observation or carrying out any research.
Ask permission from the setting and comply with any policies or protocols.
o Does your setting have a policy for observing children?
o Does you setting have a policy on research?
o Have you seen a copy and read it?
o You need to make sure you follow this policy.
Consult staff if you sense a child is not happy with the observational process, even
young children can show their unwillingness to participate.
Write your observations/research in a professional manner.
Ensure that you respect childrens and parents rights at all times.
Remember the language that is used also needs to be professional
You should avoid subjective descriptions or slang.
Store you observations/research securely.
Ensure that you do not disclose the names of children, setting or staff.
Ensure that you behave in an ethical and professional manner art all times.
CCLD Unit 8, Session 4,

Ethical considerations.

Helen Taylor.

Reference: Page 163, Sandy Green.

Activity - Confidentiality
Confidentiality is an important ethical consideration which encompasses all aspects of
working with children and their families, not just research. For the purposes of your
research study you will need to reassure participants that information and data gathered
will be treated confidentially.
1. Think of something that is personal to you and that you would not want to share with
someone else. Write it on a blank sheet of paper and put it in an envelope. Seal the
envelope, write your name on the front and give it to the tutor.
a) How do you feel while your tutor has your personal information?
b) How do you feel when your information is given to someone else to hold?
2. How can you ensure data collected during your research project is kept confidential?

3. How can you present the data and final project to ensure the identities of your
research participants are kept anonymous?

4. Under what circumstances do you think it is not possible to maintain confidentiality?

What is meant by rights with respect to observing or carrying out research on

children?

The child and family you are observing have certain rights.
They can refuse permission.
They can withdraw at any time.
The child has the right for your observation or research not to cause him or her any
distress.

What is meant by responsibility with respect to observing children or carrying out

research?

You have a responsibility to be accurate in your observations and writing.

The observations undertaken should be purposeful, relevant, and valid.
The observations undertaken should not be motivated by inquisitiveness.
It is your responsibility to make sure you follow ethical protocols.
It is your responsibility to make sure you follow the setting and college policies.
It is your responsibility to maintain confidentiality.
It is your responsibility to make sure you follow the Data Protection Act (1998), the
Human Rights Act (1998) and The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
(1991).

Think about any ethical issues that might occur in your research.
You need to respect the rights of all the people who take part in your research.

CCLD Unit 8, Session 4,

Ethical considerations.

Helen Taylor.

Activity - Childrens rights and research

When American photographer Jill Greenberg came up with the idea in 2004 of
photographing crying children, she did not anticipate the attention the project
would attract. She has received immense criticism for the exhibition End times,
which displays photographs of children which she deliberately made to cry by taking
away lollipops she had just given to them.
1. Look at the Jill Greenbergs photographs of crying children for the End Times
exhibition on the internet. Use the following questions as a basis for a
discussion.
a) In what way do you think this work was or was not carried out ethically?
b) How do you think the children may have been affected by this experience?
c) Is there a difference between making children cry for art and making
children cry in research situations, for example, as a result of research into
separation from a key carer?
2. In pairs, consider the following research projects with children and decide
whether they are ethical or unethical, giving your reasons.
Research question
Ethical or
Reasons why
unethical?
How long will a child take to settle
(stop crying) when left by his/her
parents at a setting and without
interactions from practitioners?
Will an 18 month old baby play with
equipment for a longer period of time
when seated at a table compared to
when seated on the floor?
How do 2 year old boys respond to
being restricted to the indoor play
environment over a period of one week?
How can early numeracy skills be
promoted through creative activities
for 4 year old girls?
3. Consider how/when/whether there is a need to explain research to children (in
addition to gaining parental consent).

Extension Tasks: Ethical considerations.

Write down a definition of what ethical means.
Research information on the Nuremberg Code; Find out what it is and the ten main
points of the code.
Write your own Good Practice checklist for carrying out observations, research or
studying children.
CCLD Unit 8, Session 4,

Ethical considerations.

Helen Taylor.

CCLD Unit 8, Session 4,

Ethical considerations.

Helen Taylor.