Abstract
This paper explores the notion of the 'subject' in studies of childrens subjective wellbeing. Increasingly, those researching children's well-being are acknowledging children as agents and including them as participants in research in order to tap into, and report on, their subjectivities. We explore this trend to show how dominant approaches privilege an 'objectivist' approach to subjectivity that informs epistemological and methodological approaches and has implications for policy and practice. An alternative approach is discussed which places children centrally as subjects.
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Notes
This research was primarily funded by the New South Wales Commission for Children and Young People. The University of Western Sydney also contributed with a Partnership Grant. The authors, as lead researchers, were greatly assisted in the conceptual development and fieldwork involved in the project by the other team members: Cath Brennan, Jan Falloon, Penny Irvine, Ros Leahy and Rachel Scott.
See Commission for Children and Young People (2007) for full details regarding the method.
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We would like to thank the two reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions on this paper.
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Fattore, T., Mason, J. & Watson, E. Locating the Child Centrally as Subject in Research: Towards a Child Interpretation of Well-Being. Child Ind Res 5, 423–435 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-012-9150-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-012-9150-x