How attitudes towards studying children have evolved Essay -- Childhoo

This assignment intends to identify how attitudes towards examine children have been evolving over time, whilst also identifying three key principles which should be aspired to when implementing such research. A range of theoretical perspectives and methodologies shall also be explored with examination on childrens roles and their involvement being evident through break through. Researching children is in no style a new phenomenon however there has been a considerable excite in paradigm which has led to increasing amounts of research being carried out with children rather than on children (Christensen and James, 2008). This could be because of the growing interest in childrens rights to participate (James and Prout, 1997), which as suggested by Okane (2008) occurred in the late 1980s. further it is difficult to determine whether this shift in paradigm occurred as a result of natural changes in researchers attitudes or as a direct result of new legislation (2008). As at a simi lar time, in 1989, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the youngster (1989) (UNCRC ) was enforced, giving children the right to participate and be heard in matters modify their lives. This difficulty is evident by Schaffer (1990) suggesting modernizemental theories have strongly influenced policies gum olibanum indicating, as researchers knowledge on children and childhood develop attitudes and policy change. In contrast OKane (2008, p.125) states changes reflect an acknowledgement of childrens rights. Views on childhood have and still elapse to change (Waller, 2009). The contemporary view that children atomic number 18 empty vessels (Skinner, 1974) is being disregarded as children are no longer perceived as passive recipients in an enceinte world (OKane, 2008... ...exist as if the researcher were to allow the cost to the individual to be weighed out by the benefit towards society (ref) the whole study would be compromised with both the researcher and their rese arch losing validity in the eyes of others (Green, 2003). In conclusion this assignment has identified that attitudes towards studying children have and still continue to change, although it is evident attitudes are still dominated by a westerly perspective and some changes have been more addressd than others. The findings at bottom this assignment jut out the view that children now have a participatory role within research, however it also identifies that participation is only possible if the researchers fully embrace children as competent beings and aspires to the key principles of consent, listening and responding to children and adheres to ethical codes of conduct.