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The inclusion of community voices in research is important. Over the years, research training programs have continued to emphasize that engagement with communities at the focus of research can promote thoughtful, sensitive designs ( Rivera et al., 2004 ). In this paper, we discuss a method for youth participation in the research process. In an attempt to move beyond “staged and superficial” participation in gathering youth perspectives, we advocate for including co-researchers in the development and modification of fundamental aspects of the research process, from data analysis to the development of additional research questions and collection methods ( Guishard & Tuck, 2013 ). In the course of a study designed to enroll middle school students in participatory co-design sessions ( Cahill, 2007 ) to aid in the development of educational technologies, it became apparent that our youth participants, as co-researchers, could also aid in the development, analysis, and coding of anonymized interview transcripts; development of themes; and creation of models for behaviors found in the transcripts ( Docan-Morgan, 2010 ; Luchtenberg et al., 2020 ). Thus, this paper presents a practical example of a co-research process that includes youth participants, with an emphasis on training in qualitative coding and the fundamentals of research design.
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Methods for Co-researching With Youth: A Cross-Case Analysis of Centering Anti-Adultist Frameworks
This article provides a cross-case study of three studies that utilized anti-adultist approaches to collaborating with youth as co-researchers. Drawing on reflections from both adults and youth, we present an analysis of three case studies of adult and youth experiences in planning, implementing, and conducting research studies aimed at centering youth perspectives. Findings include what adults and youth learned about the co-researching process and highlight the need for careful consideration of how both adults and youth can disrupt adultist power dynamics. We argue that amplifying youth co-researcher perspectives in research can create a mutually meaningful and empowering research process for both adults and youth by promoting more equitable relationships and participatory practices.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2100155
- PAR ID:
- 10609763
- Publisher / Repository:
- International Journal of Qualitative Methods
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- International Journal of Qualitative Methods
- Volume:
- 23
- ISSN:
- 1609-4069
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1-18
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069241286845
