Research with Children and Young People
Date:
09/06/2025
Organised by:
Social Research Association
Presenter:
Berni Graham
Level:
Intermediate (some prior knowledge)
Contact:
Patricia Cornell
training@the-sra.org.uk

Venue: Online
Description:
'The trainer was very knowledgeable and experienced, and delivered the training in a way that made it relate well to our area of work. It made me feel much more confident to engage in this type of research and I would definitely recommend the training'.
"This was a really informative and well led course with good use of breakout sessions and discussion. It covered all the basics in the right amount of detail and the course handbook was very comprehensive."
"A really good balance of issues around ethics and methods for researching with children. The activities chosen were well-designed to help us think about researching with children more broadly, and how it relates to specific projects we're working on. I've got lots to take away to implement in my work."
Introduction/Overview
Capturing the views and experiences of children and young people directly, rather than by proxy (through parents or professionals), is increasingly recognised as essential for research, evaluation and policy development. Drawing on the tutors’ extensive experience and expertise in this field, this long-running, and highly interactive, training which provides an opportunity for participants to explore the ethical, methodological and practical considerations of doing research and evaluation with children and young people, both face-to-face and remotely, and consider how to apply this learning to their own work.
Course objectives
By the end of the workshop, participants will:
- Understand the policy, theoretical underpinnings and advantages of conducting primary research with children and young people
- Understand the key ethical and methodological considerations
- Be able to apply this learning to their own work and plan ethically and methodologically sound projects with children and young people
- Be more aware of, and equipped to meet, common challenges
Topics
- Common enablers and challenges likely to be encountered
- Additional ethical considerations when conducting research or evaluation with children and young people and applying these in real world situations
- Developing appropriate methods and tools, including creative, remote and participative* methods
Who will benefit?
This course is designed for people with prior practical research/ evaluation experience, although not necessarily 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 20 years’ experience of research and evaluation with children, young people and families, typically around issues such as health, poverty, disability, school exclusions and child sexual abuse and exploitation. She is currently evaluating community-based interventions to support physical and mental health in North and East London. She recently worked with Gt Ormond St and Moorfields Hospitals to help train a group of young people as co-researchers.
Berni jointly wrote a guide to conducting research and evaluation with children and young people (which course participants will receive), and also a practical guide with templates on training and supporting children and young people as co-researchers. www.grahamresearch.co.uk
This course contributes 6 hours to the MRS CPD programme
Cost:
£220 for SRA members, £290 for non-members
Website and registration:
Region:
International
Keywords:
Frameworks for Research and Research Designs, Data Collection, Data Quality and Data Management , Qualitative Data Handling and Data Analysis, Quantitative Data Handling and Data Analysis, Mixed Methods Data Handling and Data Analysis, ICT and Software, Research Management and Impact, Research Skills, Communication and Dissemination
Related publications and presentations from our eprints archive:
Frameworks for Research and Research Designs
Data Collection
Data Quality and Data Management
Qualitative Data Handling and Data Analysis
Quantitative Data Handling and Data Analysis
Mixed Methods Data Handling and Data Analysis
ICT and Software
Research Management and Impact
Research Skills, Communication and Dissemination