Research projects and networks
Links to further information about the Childhood and Youth Studies Research Group's research projects and networks.
Current research projects
Children and Families Affected by Domestic Abuse (2019-23)
The research team is led by Professor Jane Callaghan (University of Stirling) and involves a number of academics and other stakeholders. At the University of Edinburgh, it involves Professor John Devaney (CoI), Claire Houghton (CoI), Kay Steven (Research Fellow), Professor Kay Tisdall (CoI) and Dr Camille Warrington (Research Fellow 2020-21).
CAFADA learns from promising innovations in social care, for social work, police and criminal justice, and in domestic abuse and children’s organisations in Scotland and England.
For further information, email:
Children as Innovators: Harnessing the creative expertise of children to address practical and psycho-social challenges of COVID-19 Pandemic (2021-23)
The research team is led by Dr Suja Somanadhan (University College Dublin), and involves a number of academics and other stakeholders. At the University of Edinburgh, it involves Professor Kay Tisdall as a research team member.
This research explores strategies in the home and community, where children’s creative and innovative responses have helped them and their friends and families adjust to changes during and after the pandemic. It considers how children’s actions in the pandemic may affect the ability of others in their community to adjust to changes.
For further information, email:
Froebelian Futures (2021-24)
Froebelian Futures is a partnership with Cowgate Under 5s and the University of Edinburgh.
Programme Director and Co-Director:
Other University of Edinburgh members are:
Catriona Gill
Jane Whinnet
This three year programme aims to strengthen and deepen child and community-centred early years practice across Scotland, based on the foundational principles of Friedrich Froebel.
International and Canadian Child Rights Partnership [ICCRP] (2017-2020, 2021-28)
The research team is led by Tara Collins (Ryerson University) and involves a large number of children and young people, academics, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders. At the University of Edinburgh, it involves Dr Patricio Cuevas-Parra, Professor Kay Tisdall and Dr Laura Wright as part of the management team and our partners the Children's Parliament.
Safe, Inclusive and Participative Pedagogy (SIPP): Improving early childhood education (2020-24)
Partnership between:
- Childhood and Youth Studies, Moray House School of Education and Sport at the University of Edinburgh
- The Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa
- The International Center for Research and Policy on Childhood at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (CIESPI/PUC-Rio) Brazil
- Bethlehem University
- University of Eswatini, Eswatini
This international research project aims to identify and develop safe, inclusive participative pedagogy that is implementable in fragile contexts and sustainable for governments, communities and families.
Shaping Youth Futures – Youth livelihood options in creative inclusive cities (2020-2022)
PI Sukanya Krishnamurthy, University of Edinburgh. With Mary Ann Powell (Consultant), Irene Rizzini (CIESPI, Brazil), Roshni Kishore Nuggehalli (Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action, India), Kanak Tiwari (National Institute of Urban Affairs), Bharath Palavalli (Fields of View, India), Professor Kay Tisdall (University of Edinburgh, CoI).
Using creative and accessible outputs, the research team is looking to engage with young and adult stakeholders to transform local policies and practices, and provide lessons nationally and cross-nationally to support youth livelihood options that create inclusive cities.
Transdisciplinary Research for the Improvement of Youth Mental Public Health (TRIUMPH) Network (2018-2022)
The network is led by Joanna Inchley and involves a large number of children and young people, academics, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders. At the University of Edinburgh, it involves Kay Tisdall as CoI.
TRIUMPH brings together young people, health practitioners, policy-makers and those working with voluntary organisations, with academics from across clinical, social sciences, arts and humanities, design, and computer sciences disciplines. By working together we can find new ways to improve mental health and wellbeing, especially among vulnerable and disadvantaged groups where need is greatest.
Further projects
Early Years Research, Policy and Practice Group
Completed projects
Child-led Research (2019)
Partnership between Professor Kay Tisdall (University of Edinburgh) and Dr Patricio Cuevas-Parra (World Vision International)
- Child-led Research: From participating in research to leading it (video)
- Child Participating: Addressing inequalities in decision-making (video)
Child Activists for Ending Child Marriage: Exploring children’s experiences in Bangladesh and Ghana (2018-2020)
Partnership between Professor Kay Tisdall (University of Edinburgh) and Dr Patricio Cuevas-Parra (World Vision International) with the support of World Vision Bangladesh (Stralla Rupa Mollick), World Vision Ghana (Gregory Dery) and fieldwork support in Ghana by Patrick Brobbey.
The research study explored the processes and outcomes of the work of child activists in Bangladesh and Ghana from the perspective of the child activists, (potential) child brides, and community members.
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Event: International Day of the Girl - Exploring Child Activism to End Child Marriage | 11 Oct 2021
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Event: International Day of the Girl - Exploring Child Activism to End Child Marriage | 11 Oct 2019
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World Vision and the University of Edinburgh, in collaboration with Girls Not Brides and Child Rights Connect. United Nations Palace, Geneva
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Children’s Participation in Business (2019-2021)
Partnership project led by Tara Collins, Ryerson University with Christina McMellon, University of Edinburgh, Hyun Ju Shin, Ryerson University, and Kay Tisdall, University of Edinburgh. With the support of the Child and Youth Advisory Group, the Business Advisory Group and Patricio Cuevas-Parra.
Children’s Participation in Family Actions: Probing Compliance with Children’s Human Rights (2018-2020)
Dr Fiona Morrison (PI, University of Stirling), Clan Childlaw, Professor Kay Tisdall (CoI, University of Edinburgh), Judith Warburton (Researcher, University of Stirling)
The research investigated the challenges and barriers to realising and implementing children’s participation rights in family actions and the implications these these have for compliance with children’s rights.
- Dr Ruth Friskney, Dr Fiona Morrison and Professor Kay Tisdall, gave evidence to the Justice Committee (Scottish Parliament) on the Children (Scotland) Bill, on the 17 December 2019
- Event - Reforming the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (1st October 2019)
- Event - (4 Feb 2021) - Implementing Children’s Rights in Scotland – Developing systems of child-friendly complaints, remedy and redress
- Morrison, F., Tisdall E.K.M., Warburton, J, Reid, A. and Jones, F. (2020)
- Morrison, F., Callaghan, J. and Tisdall, E.K.M. (2020) ‘Manipulation and Domestic Abuse in Contested Contact – Threats to Children’s Participation Rights’, Family Court Review 58(2): 403-416
- Tisdall, E.K.M., Morrison, F. and Warburton, J. (2021) ‘Challenging undue influence? Rethinking children’s participation in contested child contact’, Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law 43(1): 8-22
Cuál es la verdad? (What is the Truth?) | Funded by AHRC GCRF Changing the Story Large Grant Funding
Cuál es la verdad? (What is the Truth?) De-constructing collective memories and imagining alternative futures with young people in Chocó through music and art (2019-2021)
Related project Scottish Funding Council Global Challenges Research Fund Global Impact Accelerator. ‘Co-creating a social enterprise pilot with marginalised Afrocolombian and Indigenous young people in the Colombian Pacific’ (2021). Dr Marlies Kustatscher (PI, University of Edinburgh), Edwar Alexis Calderon, Tony Evanko (Fundación Casa Tres Patios), Juan Manuel Gomez (Mr Klaje Collective), Professor Kay Tisdall (CI, University of Edinburgh).
Improving Justice in Child Contact (IJCC) (2018-21)
With partners in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, Portugal and Scotland. University of Edinburgh
Principal Investigator: Professor Kay Tisdall
Programme Manager: Dr Ruth Friskney
Scoping Reviews in relation to key topics for children and young people with learning difficulties (2018-19)
Salvesen Mindroom Centre commissioned Childhood and Youth Studies (University of Edinburgh) to conduct scoping studies on three key issues for children with learning difficulties and their families:
- How professionals manage parental requests for particular therapies for children with learning difficulties
- Information needs of parents and carers of children with learning difficulties
- Positive experiences of mainstream schooling
The three areas were explored through conversations with professionals, parents and carers and children.
The effect of gambling marketing and advertising on children, young people and vulnerable people (2018-19)
Led by Ipsos MORI. Professor Kay Tisdall consultant
Publications:
Associated networks, centres and groups
Centre for Education for Racial Equality in Scotland (CERES)
Centre for Research in Education Inclusion and Diversity (CREID)
Observatory of Children’s Human Rights Scotland