Ethical beginnings: Reflexive questioning in designing child sexuality research

Abstract

Background: Counselling young children referred for sexualised behaviour can challenge therapists' ideas about childhood and sexuality. This area of practice is complex and sensitive, and calls upon collaboration with a range of significant adults in children's lives. Purpose: This paper examines a researcher's process of movement from counselling practice into qualitative research practice, and the use of reflexive questioning to explore ethical issues within the study. Design: Shaped by social constructionist ideas and discourse theory, ethical questions are outlined within the design stage of a doctoral research project on sexuality in children's lives in Aotearoa New Zealand. Limitations: This paper explores ethics in the design of a current study: there are no results or conclusions.

Keywords:

• child sexuality
• discourse
• reflexivity
• research ethics
• sensitive topics

Notes

¹ Names have been changed, and identifying information removed from practice stories to protect identities of children, families and schools.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paul Flanagan

Biography

Paul Flanagan is a senior lecturer in counsellor education, and currently engaged in doctoral research about social constructions of children's sexuality in NZ, intending to explore the effects of discursive positionings for children, parents, teachers and counselling practice.