Work

Ethical and Methodological Possibilities and Challenges in Conducting Qualitative Research With Children in Asylum Centers

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: On the Move is a practice-oriented research project with children at asylum centers. The children are a diverse group with different backgrounds, languages and resources. They are in especially vulnerable life situations: They may have traumatic experiences from war/flight/migration/asylum systems in their past. They may also be affected by their parents’ traumas. Their uncertain future affects their daily lives in the asylum centers. The children may be marked by a history of relational loss, and might again lose family, friends or care staff when they move. The children comprise a diverse range of backgrounds, cultures, languages, resources, and challenges. Past traumas, their history of relational loss, and uncertainty about the future cast shadows over the children’s lives. Due to their situation, the children also can be difficult to reach, follow, and support. On the Move had a unique opportunity to research with children living in asylum centers. The project is a collaboration between researchers, children, and professionals at Red Cross Asylum centers in Denmark. It examines how participation in a long-term, holistic and playful movement intervention can support children’s connectedness. It is inspired by a hermeneutic phenomenological research approach, practitioner research and Arts-Based Research. The purpose of this article is to contribute to knowledge about the ethical and methodological possibilities and challenges that may arise when conducting research with children in vulnerable situations. The article focuses on exploring ethical dilemmas and illuminating research methodological processes, and thus does not aim to highlight findings or analyses from the research project. The article demonstrates how ethical foundations and multi-dimensional methods inspired by crystallization can create opportunities to illuminate children’s participation in a playful, holistic movement intervention. Insights from this can inspire and inform qualitative research with children in various vulnerable situations.

Source: International Journal of Qualitative Methods

DOI: 10.1177/16094069251356881

Authors: Maise Johansen, Helle Winther

Institution: University of Copenhagen

Language: English

Topic: Children's Rights and Participation

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,650