Research with children and young people
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| 6 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| End-of-course assessment | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
Are you interested in researching the experiences of children and young people, and learning more about their worlds? This course examines the research process through studies with children and young people carried out in the fields of education, health, social care and the social sciences. It explores topics such as the ethics of research and the responsibilities of researchers. This is a project-based course with no exam, and it will help you to develop your own research skills using audio, video and interactive materials.
Course content
Why do children and young people behave in certain ways and what do they understand about their worlds? Are you concerned with the ethics of research, with participation and power issues, and the responsibilities of researchers? Are you interested in the dissemination of research findings?
These, and other questions, are considered in this course which focuses on research with participants aged from birth to early adulthood in the fields of education, social science, health and social care. It will prepare you for carrying out research with children and young people. This is achieved by introducing you to a range of research methods and analytical techniques; alerting you to a number of important issues arising in research with children and young people; and providing you with the opportunity to practise a number of specific research skills.
The course covers all aspects of the research process, including reviewing existing literature; identifying research questions and hypotheses; selecting an appropriate research method; collecting and analysing data; interpreting and discussing results; and presenting and writing up findings. The teaching is based around a set text and two readers, together with associated audio, video and interactive materials.
The set text provides an introduction to both qualitative and quantitative approaches to research in the social sciences, health, education and social care. These different approaches are illustrated in one reader through research papers selected to demonstrate the breadth of research with children and young people in these fields. Examples of these research papers range from an ethnographic study of young people in rural Bolivia to an examination of how deaf Japanese infants acquire their first signs; from short-term fostering to the relationship between children’s social skills and bullying behaviour. In addition to the research papers – all of which have been published or specially commissioned – and to elucidate the research process, the lead authors have provided written commentaries about their research, addressing questions such as: What led to the research? What was it like doing the research? How were the research methods selected? What ethical issues arose? Has the reported research led to further studies? (Please note the course is based on the second edition of the set book so please ensure you purchase the correct edition.)
The other reader is a collection of chapters addressing a number of key issues arising in research with children and young people. Some of these include legal and ethical issues; power relations; race and ethnicity; participation levels of children and young people; and implications for policy and practice.
The audio and video materials support the print materials in a number of ways. For example, they illustrate different approaches to research with children and young people and issues that arise; the processes of identifying research questions; collecting and analysing data; and the use of research by professionals. Interactive media materials include tools to aid the coding and analysis of data.
Entry
You do not need any prior experience of carrying out research, although we would expect you to have studied courses which draw on research studies involving children and/or young people. You do not need to have access to children or young people. Statistics are used in the course, but they are fully explained. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Qualifications
EK310 is a compulsory course in our
EK310 is an optional course in our
- BA/BSc (Honours) Social Sciences (B06)
- BA/BSc (Honours) Health and Social Care (B18)
- Shortened BA/BSc (Honours) Health and Social Care (B22)
- BA (Honours) Social Work Studies (B59)
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a course towards a qualification if you have already taken another course with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this course, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Please note that this course makes use of audio and visual materials. This will involve use of CD-ROMs, where you will be expected to view and/or listen to sequences and record particular features for future reference. You will also need to access literature via the internet. This could present difficulties if you are hearing and/or visually impaired. The course materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Some components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. The course materials are available on audio in DAISY Digital Talking Book format. Written transcripts are available for the audio-visual material. Large print versions of the printed course material can be provided on request. As part of this course you will need to spend some time using a personal computer and the internet. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Two course readers, other printed materials, three CDs containing audio, video and interactive materials, course website.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you can use an Apple Mac or Linux computer if you can run Windows using Boot Camp or similar.
Materials to buy
Set books
- Punch, Keith F Introduction to Social Research, Sage £25.99 - ISBN 9780761944171
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the course material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may also be able to offer group tutorials that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
The end-of-course assessment (ECA) is a project report that takes the place of an examination. It consists of a literature review, and design of a study and critical evaluation. Assessment is an essential part of the teaching, so you are expected to complete it all. There is no assignment substitution.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in February 2010. We expect it to be available at the same time once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Childhood and Youth, Education and Health and Social Care.
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Student Reviews
I found the chapters on ethics and dissemination helpful. It was interesting to read the various researchers work. The video ...
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I found this course the most difficult in all my years of studying with OU. I do not have an ...
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