“I really enjoyed this course. Berni is an excellent trainer who gauges the level of skill and interest in the room and works at a pace that suits everyone. We had some really useful discussions about different scenarios that we might come across when researching with children and I feel like it has prepared me for when I go out there and talk to children.”

“Really engaging course and trainer, covered good information in an appropriate amount of detail.  Haven't enjoyed external training this much for some time. Great there was an in-person offer”

“… the course was exceptional.”

“Great course. Lots learned and things to consider”

“Absolutely fantastic training. I have 10 pages of notes! I've learnt so much. Thank you so much Berni”

“Berni is a brilliant trainer, the course covered a lot of content over the two mornings. Berni shared her vast knowledge and experience as well as drawing on the attendee’s experience too. Interactive, learnt lots and definite actions to take away for projects I'm working on. Highly recommend …”

Introduction/Overview

Capturing the views and experiences of children and young people directly, rather than by proxy (e.g. through parents or professionals), is increasingly recognised as essential for sound research and policy development. Drawing on the tutors' extensive experience and expertise in this field, this long-running, practical, and highly interactive training provides an opportunity for participants to explore the ethical, methodological and real-world considerations of doing research and evaluation with children and young people, both face-to face and remotely.
This online course runs over two half days which helps participants reflect on and consolidate the learning and how to apply it to their own work. We also run it in person, as a one-day course, usually about once per year.

Course Objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

• Understand the policy contexts, theoretical underpinnings, value and advantages of conducting research directly with children and young people
• Appreciate the additional ethical and methodological considerations
• Be able to apply this learning to their own work and plan more ethically and methodologically sound projects with younger groups
• Be much more aware of, and equipped to meet, common challenges

Topics

• The contexts and advantages of working directly with younger groups
• Common enablers and challenges
• Selecting appropriate methods, developing suitable and accessible tools
• Incorporating creative and participative methods
• Additional ethical considerations in real world situations and exploring potential solutions

Who will benefit?

This course is designed for people who already have practical research and/or evaluation experience, but little or no experience of conducting research or evaluation with children and young people, and who expect to manage and/or directly work on research or evaluation projects with children and young people.

Course tutor

Berni Graham is an independent researcher and evaluator, bringing over 23 years’ experience of research and evaluation with children, young people and families, on a range of social issues including inequalities, health, poverty, disability and school exclusions. Her research pursuits are informed by, and build on her career in social policy, welfare advice and health.

Berni jointly wrote a guide to conducting research and evaluation with children and young people as co-researchers; and the current SRA Ethics Guidance.

Berni recently evaluated Hope for the Youngs' support for young asylum seekers and refugees, and trained young patients at Moorfields Hospital as co-researchers. She is a member of the SRA Ethics Appraisal Group.

Fore more details see: www.grahamresearch.co.uk

This course is very popular, and often run in-house as well. For more information about our in-house courses, contact [email protected].

This course contributes 6 hours to the MRS CPD programme

n.b. This course runs over two consecutive days:

Part 1 - 3 November - 9.30 am to 1.30 pm

Part 2 - 4 November - 9.30 am to 1.30 pm