Challenging research

In the past young people have, at best, been seen as respondents in research designed and undertaken by adults – as providers of information that adults then give meaning to and use.  However there is a growing body of people and expertise that seek to challenge the persistence of this unequal relationship between those who carry out research and those who are researched.   

Right research

As researchers and as practitioners who are increasingly also engaged in research and evaluation, we should be aware of the need to carry out research which is young people-focused and is informed by their perspectives through out the whole research or evaluation process.

• Young people have a right to take part and to have their views listened to.
• Including young people brings new perspectives to the whole research process: in the framing of research questions, how research is undertaken, what information is gained, how it is analysed and how the findings are used. 
• Involving young people can address issues of power between researchers and researched and between young people and adults.
• Collaborative research also recognises and values young people’s skills and experiences.

We believe that young people can and should contribute to research. We hope RightSpace will help raise some of the issues, share examples and contribute to the debates to offer some guidance for carrying out effective research which actively engages young people.