Pub Aff 10/15

Techniques for Working with Children in Research

Introduction to Interviewing Children
- Interviewing children presents unique challenges.
- Objects can facilitate discussion by providing a tangible focus for the child.

Photo Elicitation
- A qualitative interview technique where photographs or images are used to prompt conversations.
- Technique involves the following:
- Bring photographs/images to the interview to discuss with respondents.
- Participants describe or differentiate between images.
- Advantages include:
- Diversified data collection as respondents provide richer responses compared to verbal questioning alone.
- Engages different cognitive processes (visual processing versus verbal recall).
- Creates layered data due to the introduction of visuals.
Example of Photo Elicitation
- Wendy Roth's Research:
- Focused on how Dominicans categorize race and ethnicity.
- Utilized images of various Latino individuals to stimulate discussion on racial categories.
- Researchers analyze responses based on how respondents classify the individuals in photos.
- Provides insight on consensus and individual perceptions regarding race.
- Use of standardized images allows for a comparable framework across respondents.

Photo Elicitation
- Used primarily to engage interviewees and prompt discussion.
- The researcher often retains more control in defining the discussion agenda.
Photo Voice
- Defined as a participatory action research method.
- Participants take photos that illustrate social issues important to them.
- Participants provide narratives accompanying their images.
- Relationship between researcher and participant is more equal.
- Respondents are seen as experts regarding their experiences, contrasting with traditional hierarchical research structures.
- Emphasizes participant-driven narratives and insights.

Drawing as a Method
- Often used with children to encourage expression through art.
- Participants might be asked to create drawings or maps.
- Helps articulate experiences and sentiments that may be hard to verbalize directly.
- Techniques include:
- Drawing maps of personal spaces to reveal spatial understandings and interpretations.

Neighborhood Mapping
- Researchers ask participants to draw maps illustrating their neighborhood.
- Objectives include:
- Understanding personal perceptions versus official geographic boundaries.
- Identifying individual versus consensus perceptions of local areas.
- Example:
- Research on elderly individuals in public health focuses on mobility within neighborhoods and perceptions of safety regarding walking public spaces.
Amalia Campo Celgado's Research
- Engaged Central American migrants in shelters to draw maps of their migration journeys.
- Maps included routes, hazards, border crossings, and checkpoints.
- Followed by narrative interviews to delve deeper into their migration experiences, illuminating the complex nature of borders and enforcement beyond political lines.

Introduction to Sampling
- Sampling techniques are divided into probability and non-probability sampling.
- Probability sampling involves random selection; non-probability does not.
Non-Probability Sampling
- Commonly used in qualitative research. Examples include:
- Convenience Sampling: Involves selecting participants based on ease of access.
- Snowball Sampling: Participants refer other subjects; may result in bias favoring respondents with social networks.
- Purposive Sampling: Deliberately selecting participants based on specific characteristics relevant to the study.
- Quota Sampling: Ensuring demographic characteristics in a sample reflect a larger population purposefully.

Understanding Qualitative Research Objectives
- The aim is to gain deep insights into subjective experiences rather than derive statistical generalizations.
- Quality is measured through understanding motivation, perception, and social context rather than relying solely on sampling methods.
Debating Sampling Efficacy
- A question posed regarding whether a random or non-random sample yields better qualitative research results.
- Emphasizes that qualitative samples should reflect the experiences that are being explored.
- Example scenarios included examining whether random samples from college students would achieve research goals.
- Concluded that qualitative research is often not focused on generalizability, so research quality goes beyond sampling technique.

Key Takeaways:
- Quality and depth of qualitative research depend on specificity and context rather than on sampling type.
- Non-probability sampling aligns with qualitative goals of exploring specific experiences and should not be underestimated in research rigor.