Ethical and practical challenges of conducting art-based research with children/young people in the public space of a children’s outpatient department

Abstract

This article examines the ethical and practical challenges of undertaking a study using art-based methods with children/young people. It is argued that an important component of qualitative research and research with children/young people is researcher reflexivity and flexibility, particularly when the anticipated and actual implemented methods of a study differ. We draw on a study with 175 children/young people aged 5–16 years in a children’s outpatients department where ‘draw-and-tell’ and ‘letter writing’ were used to elicit children/young people’s perceptions of the outpatient environment. The challenges that arose during the study are critically reflected on including recruitment, the physical and social environment, time restrictions and interviewing. Recommendations for researchers using art-based methods to carry out research with children/young people are offered.