Listening to children in care: A review of methodological and theoretical approaches to understanding looked after children's perspectives

Holland, Sally ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7600-3855 2009. Listening to children in care: A review of methodological and theoretical approaches to understanding looked after children's perspectives. Children & Society 23 (3) , pp. 226-235. 10.1111/j.1099-0860.2008.00213.x

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Abstract

This article reviews 44 refereed journal articles published between 2003 and 2008. All of the articles attempt to directly uncover the experiences or perspectives of young people cared for by the state in foster, residential or kinship care homes. The review reveals that this field is developing a rich body of evidence derived from a broad range of methodological and theoretical frameworks. In this sample, research designs appeared to be influenced by placement settings, as well as theoretical orientations, but comparative and longitudinal designs were used in both quantitative and qualitative studies. Participative research designs were only present in qualitative designs within a broadly interpretive theoretical orientation. It is suggested in this article that researchers should critically reflect on the use of constructs that may negatively label young people in care. It is also suggested that there could be fuller reporting of ethical issues. Despite some identified gaps, such as the participation of young people in quantitative research designs and research with younger age groups, the article concludes that there appears to be an encouraging emergence of theoretical and methodological diversity in this research area.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
Uncontrolled Keywords:	children; foster children; looked after children; participatory research; research methodologies; research methods; user views; young people
Publisher:	Wiley Blackwell
ISSN:	0951-0605
Last Modified:	19 Oct 2022 10:46
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/25466

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