Course content

The course will provide an overview and theoretically discuss the various steps in a research process, such as data collection, analysis, interpretation and the making of a research text. The possibilities and limitations related to the use of different methods will be addressed. Children's perspectives within research involve the exploration of children's everyday lives from children's perspectives and experiences. A grassroot's perspective such as this entails a methodological approach towards children as informants in the research process and calls for the use of a variety of methods. These may include various forms of interviews, observations, visual methods and fieldwork. Methodological issues such as accessing children as informants and research ethics will be addressed. In addition, discourse analysis of texts, documents and social practices will be included. Though the main emphasis is on qualitative research, various quantitative methods and the combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches will be addressed. Lectures draw on ongoing empirical research based at the centre as well as from an international milieu of children and childhood researchers.

Learning outcome

The course aims to prepare the students for doing research on children and childhood as a social and cultural phenomenon through knowledge about:
*Basic principles related to empirical research.
*Relations between theoretical perspectives, research questions and methodology.
*Methodological discussions related to children's perspectives and children as informants.
*Different methods and techniques (with a focus on qualitative approaches).

Learning methods and activities

Total lecture hours: ca. 20. Supervision of paper, individually and/or group based. The teaching language is English.

Compulsory assignments

• Attending lectures is compulsory.

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

Admittance to the course requires an approved master's degree in a social science or humanities discipline, or equivalent.

Course materials

Information will be given at the beginning of the semester.

Credit reductions