Empowering Children: Ethical Decision Making in Research through a Strength-Based Approach

Dwerryhouse, M ORCID: 0000-0003-0452-0364 and Hall, L (2025) Empowering Children: Ethical Decision Making in Research through a Strength-Based Approach. In: Frankel, S and Kay-Flowers, S, (eds.) The Ethics of Unlocking Research with Children: Creativity, Agency and Change. Emerald, p. 95. ISBN 9781836089933

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Abstract

Research with children, particularly those deemed to have special educational needs (SEN), traditionally takes the form of a deficit model, whereby the decision to engage is taken away from the child and instead sought from an appropriate adult. Whilst the present approach seeks to alleviate risk of harm to child participants, we contend that the current process of bypassing the child, may inadvertently do more harm than good. The process of seeking consent for a child’s engagement via an appropriate adult, discredits the child’s unique strengths and capabilities, essentially withholding their right to be heard. We argue a case for a paradigm shift from the traditional deficit model to a strengths-based approach that empowers children to take the lead. This chapter explores the ways in which a strengths-based approach might be achieved. Considerations include de-mystification of the research process, navigation of ethical dilemmas and accessibility of meaningful consent. Through taking a positivist approach, we seek ways in which we might create meaningful engagement opportunities that amplify the voices of children so that they are no longer withheld, overpowered, or silenced, but instead, engaged, understood, and empowered.

Item Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	This author accepted manuscript is deposited under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC) licence. This means that anyone may distribute, adapt, and build upon the work for non-commercial purposes, subject to full attribution. If you wish to use this manuscript for commercial purposes, please contact permissions@emerald.com
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Child empowerment; Child protection; Children's rights; Strengths-based; Participatory research; Justice
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BJ Ethics R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine > RA0440 Study and Teaching. Research
Divisions:	Justice Studies (from Sep 19) Screen School
Publisher:	Emerald
Date of acceptance:	29 January 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	17 December 2025
Date Deposited:	29 Jan 2025 12:17
Last Modified:	17 Dec 2025 15:32
Editors:	Frankel, S and Kay-Flowers, S
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/25482

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