Understanding young children’s experiences from their own perspective: using headcams in developmental research and healthcare practice

Hardiman, Rebecca 2026. Understanding young children’s experiences from their own perspective: using headcams in developmental research and healthcare practice. ClinPsy Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Abstract Understanding early development requires methods that capture children’s experiences as they naturally occur, from the child’s own perspective. Head-mounted, first-person cameras (headcams) provide a unique opportunity to observe children’s experiences as they unfold in real time, thus bridging the gap between controlled experimentation and everyday life. Yet the use of this methodology in naturalistic developmental research has not previously been systematically synthesised. This systematic review aimed to identify, describe, and evaluate empirical studies that have used child worn headcams to study development in every-day environments, in children under 5 years of age. The literature was systematically searched, identifying 21 papers. Included studies were narratively synthesised due to heterogeneity. Data were extracted on participant characteristics, recording contexts, headcam administration and technical properties, analytic approaches, and key developmental findings. The review identified a growing but methodologically diverse literature, predominantly centred on infancy. This technology generates rich datasets, which have been used to address questions relating to infants’ social visual experiences, early word learning, visual system development, caregiver interactions, and toddlers’ engagement with naturalistic environments. Sample sizes across studies have been small, and in the context of assumed neurotypical development. Overall, this review highlights the value of headcams as a child-centred method for studying early development in everyday contexts, while identifying important gaps in population diversity and stakeholder involvement, lack of exploration of clinical application, and a need for greater methodological standardisation. These findings inform future research directions and the potential translational use of headcam methodologies in developmental science and practice.

Item Type:	Thesis (DClinPsy)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Down syndrome (DS); healthcare; headcams; digital transformation; interest holder consultation; translational research.
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	16 September 2026
Last Modified:	16 Sep 2026 11:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/189661

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