How Best to Perform Co-Research With Children and Adolescents: A Rapid Qualitative Evidence Synthesis

In recent years, emphasis has grown on involving children and adolescents in research. Co-research allows these age groups to be equal partners in research, ensures that their perspectives and experiences are considered, and empowers them to express their views and expertise on their own lives. Howe...

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Main Authors: Karolina Seidl, Anna Wahl, Daniela Rojatz, Lisa Affengruber, Isolde Sommer, Irma Klerings, Lisa Gugglberger, Rosie Nash, Johanna Mahr-Slotawa, Ursula Griebler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-05-01
Series:International Journal of Qualitative Methods
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251346879
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author Karolina Seidl
Anna Wahl
Daniela Rojatz
Lisa Affengruber
Isolde Sommer
Irma Klerings
Lisa Gugglberger
Rosie Nash
Johanna Mahr-Slotawa
Ursula Griebler
author_facet Karolina Seidl
Anna Wahl
Daniela Rojatz
Lisa Affengruber
Isolde Sommer
Irma Klerings
Lisa Gugglberger
Rosie Nash
Johanna Mahr-Slotawa
Ursula Griebler
author_sort Karolina Seidl
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, emphasis has grown on involving children and adolescents in research. Co-research allows these age groups to be equal partners in research, ensures that their perspectives and experiences are considered, and empowers them to express their views and expertise on their own lives. However, involving children and young people in co-research poses complex challenges and raises multifaceted issues. This review provides insights from previous co-research processes and outlines the characteristics of an ideal co-research process. A rapid qualitative evidence synthesis was conducted to synthesize the qualitative research on co-research experiences with children and adolescents. We searched three electronic databases up to May 2023 and carried out supplementary searches. Two reviewers screened 742 abstracts and 169 full-text articles to select studies that met our eligibility criteria. From 48 eligible studies, we sampled 30 to synthesize based on the data richness for qualitative content analysis. Our synthesis highlights key factors that are crucial in co-research processes with children and adolescents. We developed a framework consisting of six key themes: the sociocultural factors, ethics, setting factors, project management, interpersonal factors, and individual factors of the young co-researchers. These themes involve various factors (e.g., children’s and adolescents’ rights, power imbalances, support structures, remuneration/incentives, trust, and time availability) that must be considered. The challenges and facilitators encountered throughout the co-research process were synthesized. In addition, we provide an overview of targeted co-research methods for young age groups, which offers valuable guidance for future co-research initiatives.
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spelling doaj-art-715dd850e8054d8cbd31dd775641bfbb2025-08-20T02:37:17ZengSAGE PublishingInternational Journal of Qualitative Methods1609-40692025-05-012410.1177/16094069251346879How Best to Perform Co-Research With Children and Adolescents: A Rapid Qualitative Evidence SynthesisKarolina SeidlAnna WahlDaniela RojatzLisa AffengruberIsolde SommerIrma KleringsLisa GugglbergerRosie NashJohanna Mahr-SlotawaUrsula GrieblerIn recent years, emphasis has grown on involving children and adolescents in research. Co-research allows these age groups to be equal partners in research, ensures that their perspectives and experiences are considered, and empowers them to express their views and expertise on their own lives. However, involving children and young people in co-research poses complex challenges and raises multifaceted issues. This review provides insights from previous co-research processes and outlines the characteristics of an ideal co-research process. A rapid qualitative evidence synthesis was conducted to synthesize the qualitative research on co-research experiences with children and adolescents. We searched three electronic databases up to May 2023 and carried out supplementary searches. Two reviewers screened 742 abstracts and 169 full-text articles to select studies that met our eligibility criteria. From 48 eligible studies, we sampled 30 to synthesize based on the data richness for qualitative content analysis. Our synthesis highlights key factors that are crucial in co-research processes with children and adolescents. We developed a framework consisting of six key themes: the sociocultural factors, ethics, setting factors, project management, interpersonal factors, and individual factors of the young co-researchers. These themes involve various factors (e.g., children’s and adolescents’ rights, power imbalances, support structures, remuneration/incentives, trust, and time availability) that must be considered. The challenges and facilitators encountered throughout the co-research process were synthesized. In addition, we provide an overview of targeted co-research methods for young age groups, which offers valuable guidance for future co-research initiatives.https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251346879
spellingShingle Karolina Seidl
Anna Wahl
Daniela Rojatz
Lisa Affengruber
Isolde Sommer
Irma Klerings
Lisa Gugglberger
Rosie Nash
Johanna Mahr-Slotawa
Ursula Griebler
How Best to Perform Co-Research With Children and Adolescents: A Rapid Qualitative Evidence Synthesis
International Journal of Qualitative Methods
title How Best to Perform Co-Research With Children and Adolescents: A Rapid Qualitative Evidence Synthesis
title_full How Best to Perform Co-Research With Children and Adolescents: A Rapid Qualitative Evidence Synthesis
title_fullStr How Best to Perform Co-Research With Children and Adolescents: A Rapid Qualitative Evidence Synthesis
title_full_unstemmed How Best to Perform Co-Research With Children and Adolescents: A Rapid Qualitative Evidence Synthesis
title_short How Best to Perform Co-Research With Children and Adolescents: A Rapid Qualitative Evidence Synthesis
title_sort how best to perform co research with children and adolescents a rapid qualitative evidence synthesis
url https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251346879
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