RESEARCHING BEHAVIOUR : A Q METHODOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF THE POSITION OF THE YOUNG PERSON AS RESEARCHER

Although a developing theme, research has under-represented children’s voices and much of the literature relating to children and young people’s emotional and behavioural difficulties is written from adult perspectives. This study began with my interest in exploring the effective engagement of professionals with ‘hard to reach’ children and young people. Just as much of the research around children and young people and their behaviour has not included the accounts or voices of the youngsters themselves, Q Methodology has generally been under-used with children and young people. Thus, I was interested in using Q methodology in order to explore the viewpoints of children, so as to understand better, how practitioners might engage more effectively as helpers and how appropriate approaches might be located within a suitable model of change. After enlisting the help of young people in the project, my work with them led to my problematising the term ‘co-researcher’, developing into my concern to understand the experience of young people who are thus engaged. As a researcher-practitioner I am interested in finding and developing methods that effectively engage children and young people and searching for methodologies that are ethically sound and enable children young people’s voice to be articulated and heard. This study explores young people’s viewpoints concerning the benefits gained from working on a research project with an adult and the experience of young people and adults regarding this topic. Three key themes are discussed in relation to the literature (power, voice and relationships) and implications for young researchers, participation and practice are explored. Future studies are indicated, notably in relation to explorations of learning.