Exploring Kids' Online Friendships During COVID-19: Ethical and Methodological Insights

What is it about?

The study explored online research methodologies with children during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on ethical considerations and participatory approaches. It involved a pilot case study with ten children aged 7 to 11 in the UK, examining how they maintained friendships during lockdown. Data collection was conducted using creative participatory methods and open-ended online unstructured interviews. The study emphasized the importance of allowing children to choose their creative methods to produce agentic knowledge. Ethical processes were managed through university procedures, with informed consent obtained from guardians and children. Recruitment was conducted entirely online due to the pandemic, bypassing traditional face-to-face methods. The study highlighted the need for ethical flexibility and adaptability in online research environments with children.

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Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash

Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research is important as it addresses the ethical and methodological challenges of conducting research with children during the COVID-19 pandemic, when traditional face-to-face methods were not feasible. By exploring the transition to online participatory research methods, the study highlights how ethical processes can be maintained in a digital environment, ensuring children's active participation and agency. The insights gained are crucial for future research and educational practices involving children, particularly in circumstances where in-person interaction is restricted. This study provides a valuable framework for adapting and evolving research methodologies to maintain ethical standards and meaningful engagement with young participants. Key Takeaways: 1. Online Research Adaptation: The study reveals that researchers had to adapt established face-to-face practices to an online format during the pandemic, ensuring that ethical processes remained fluid and co-produced despite the challenges posed by remote interaction. 2. Creative Methodologies: It was found that allowing children to choose their creative methods in online settings facilitated the production of agentic knowledge, empowering them to express their perspectives and experiences during the lockdown. 3. Ethical Considerations: The research underscores the importance of obtaining informed consent and addressing ethical dilemmas in online research, highlighting that ethical approval and the role of guardians as gatekeepers were crucial to ensuring children's welfare and autonomy in the study.