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Understanding research with children and young people
Understanding research with children and young people

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1 Taking that first step

Where do you start? As with any first step, it is wise to see if you can find some support, or someone with experience that you can turn to as you shape your ideas and get your project off the ground.

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Photograph of a baby’s feet walking in the sand.

You have already met Meera, who was researching in a school with Year 7 students. Watch her now as she talks about getting started with a project. What sources of support does she mention? Does she give the impression that doing a research project can be a lonely business?

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Transcript

Meera
I think teachers who maybe apply for research projects, there is that kind of structured support. If you’re a teacher in a school that would like to set up a research project, I think it’s a little bit more difficult, just because, sometimes, that structure isn’t there. There isn’t the guidance there. However, saying that, we’ve had many teachers who have gone to undertake their own research.
Likewise, a management of a research journal for teachers. And that is something that does provide a little platform for teachers to take that first step into inquiring into their own teaching practice.
In this school, absolutely. So we’ve had instances where teachers have gone to do research projects in pairs. And they’ve gotten to have a look at verbal feedback strategies. And they’ve come back and they fed back those ideas, homeschool.
Likewise, we’ve had teachers who have grouped together across the school, both on primary sites and secondary sites, having a look at different ways of giving feedback to students. And in that process, they work to disseminate them throughout the school and through the journal.
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Activity 1

Timing: Allow approximately 15 minutes.

a. 

You have to make an application to do a research project.


b. 

It is possible to do a research project on your own.


c. 

The Research Journal is a good source of support for teachers carrying out research in Education.


d. 

Teachers have found it difficult to get support from colleagues in school.


e. 

Doing research has proved a good way of disseminating findings and sharing good practice in the school.


f. 

Teachers can contribute the findings from their projects to the Journal.


The correct answers are b, c, e and f.

Knowing where you can find the sort of support Meera is talking about will be a tremendous help to you, particularly as you get started. If you are not working in a school environment, take some time, now, to think about what support is available to you. Is there a Research Journal in your area of expertise? Might you join with a colleague to do your project? Do you know a friend or colleague who has already carried out some research in your area and might be willing to advise or guide you?