Screens and clouds: Methodological changes and ethical dilemmas when researching digital literacy socialisation of a toddler

Abstract

This article reviews methodological changes made to a qualitative study on the digital literacy practices of a toddler (starting from 1 year and 9 months). The catalyst for these changes was the Covid19 pandemic as experienced in Sri Lanka which led to the exploration of some important questions related to research methodology and ethics. Due to the pandemic, data was collected and conveyed entirely through digital means. Using field notes from the researchers, interviews with one parent and data from the child's literacy activities, we discuss methodological changes that were effected during this time and three other significant issues: the importance of prior relationships between researchers and participants, and how that relationship functioned and evolved during the study; some ethical dilemmas that we faced while researching intimate family settings through screens; and a reflection on children's agency in research about them. Through these reflections, the article brings about a more reflexive consideration of ethics and methodology in researching the child, the family and the digital.