Children’s participation in social work research: A secondary data analysis of an umbrella review of children’s participation in child welfare

The real participation of children and young people in decisions affecting their lives and rights gained traction with the 1989 adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly Article 12, which asserts children's rights to express their views and have them respected. This principle recognizes children as active societal agents, not just passive subjects. This study, based on these principles, analyses secondary data from a prior umbrella review by the authors, focusing on children’s involvement in research processes. Using an adapted version of Shier's (2019) model, the study highlights a worrying dependence on traditional, adult-centered research methods that largely overlook young participants' perspectives. Although some creative, child-friendly methods are used, they are sporadic, revealing a gap in engaging younger children effectively. The study also finds that children's participation is often tokenistic rather than genuinely collaborative. These findings emphasize the need for more inclusive and innovative research practices to empower children and young people as co-creators of knowledge. Bridging these gaps is essential for promoting a more child-centered, equitable approach in research, which values every child's contribution and fosters a more inclusive society.