withdraw or being unable to continue mid-way through a study, or unintentionally finding
something out about a child’s or young person’s life which you think puts them at risk of
harm.
Conducting high-quality research is challenging, however small- or large-scale the project
may be. In your studies so far you have begun to address the different ways in which
researchers plan their studies in order to examine a range of individual, social and cultural
issues. How can investigations deal with complex personal, and at times ‘messy’, issues
whilst also respecting and protecting the rights of children, young people and their
families? In this section you will consider how research is designed to understand
complex everyday lives whilst adhering to ethical protocols.
Designing research (I)
The first activity examines how research can be designed to understand complex lives.
This activity is in two parts. Allow approximately one and a half hours to complete both
parts.
Aim: to examine the range of issues that are important when designing research with and
about children, young people and their families.
Activity 1 (Part 1)
Allow 30 minutes
Researching poverty and family life
Watch the first part of the social documentary film Vortex.
Video content is not available in this format.
Vortex (Part 1)
Now watch the second part.
Video content is not available in this format.
Vortex (Part 2)
Filmed over a period of six months, this social documentary, produced by The Open
University and the Hunnia Film Studio, shows the lives of Roma families in a small
village in Hajdu-Bihar county, north-eastern Hungary, on the border with Romania.
Unemployment is close to 100 per cent in this community, and isolation, poverty and
discrimination create a situation in which families find it hard to survive.
You may find this film upsetting. As you watch, make notes, using the following
questions to guide you. The next part of this activity draws on the reflections made by
the filmmaker, John Oates.
What do you feel the film is attempting to convey?
What do you feel are important messages communicated through this film?
Do you feel the decision to make a film as opposed to using a different form of
research media, such as writing a research report or journal article, has had an
impact?
