Engage

Research and publications

This library provides valuable knowledge to strengthen work with children and young people in decision-making processes. It includes studies that have used methods enabling children to share their views directly, publications and reasearch on children’s participation, as well as extensive surveys gathering responses from many children.

Filter

Currently viewing: All

Sofie Henze-Pedersen & Michella Ida Mikuta
Denmark, 
2026
Children and young people’s experiences of disclosing childhood abuse, including how relationships and circumstances can support or constrain disclosure. Based on timeline interviews with 20 children and young people aged 12-25 in Denmark.
English
Elin Eriksen Ødegaard et al.
Aotearoa (New Zealand), Norway and Tanzania, 
2026
Exploring how young children experience and make meaning of water across Norway, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Tanzania. Based on participatory, arts-based methods with 270 children and teachers in early childhood settings.
UNICEF
International, 
2026
Children’s evolving capacities to understand, assess and make decisions. Based on research and consultations with 154 children in 17 focus groups across 10 countries, using a ‘decision wheel’ to explore how decisions affecting their lives are made.
English
Kelly Razey and Colm Walsh
Northern Ireland, 
2026
Participative approaches for amplifying the voices of justice-involved youth, including methods such as photovoice and lyric writing, and how systemic constraints and adult-led decision-making can limit meaningful youth participation. Based on a rapid evidence review of 14 studies from several countries.
English
B. Bianca Fortuin et al.
Netherlands, 
2026
Children’s perspectives and experiences of preventive youth health services, including their views on interactions with health professionals, parental involvement, privacy and how routine health assessments could be improved. Based on six focus groups with 41 children aged 9-12 years in the Netherlands.
English
Lisa Borglund et al.
Sweden, 
2026
Investigating preschool children’s perspectives on physical literacy and their experiences of movement and physical activity. Based on individual semi-structured interviews with 25 children aged 5-6 years, adapted to allow children to move and express themselves during the interviews.
English
Styliani Prompona et al.
Greece, 
2026
Examining children’s experiences and perspectives on risk-taking during school recess, including how school rules and adult restrictions shape their opportunities for play, agency and autonomy. Based on seven months of ethnographic observation and informal conversations with children aged 6-12 years at a Greek primary school.
English
“Information and support services for children aged 9 to 12 years: Children’s experiences with and preferences for support services”
Lars Jørun Langøien et al.
Norway, 
2025
Investigating what children need, hope for, and experience in relation to information and support services. Drawing on focus groups with 92 children aged 9-12 and interviews with 20 young people aged 16-19.
Norwegian
Olav Bertin Tveit et al.
Norway, 
2025
Investigating whether being consulted by parents during divorce is associated with children’s later mental health and parent-child relationships. Based on surveys with 317 children aged 7-15 recruited through Norwegian family counselling centres.
English
“Children’s Well-Being in Early Childhood Education and Care”
Ragnhild Lenes et al.
Norway, 
2025
Investigating how children experience daily life and well-being in Norwegian early childhood settings. Based on observations, interviews, structured child conversations with 235 children, self-reported well-being data from over 1,200 children, and a longitudinal study of children’s well-being.
Norwegian
Eurochild
Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia & Malta, 
2025
Exploring how children understand mental health, what affects their well-being, and what support they need. Based on focus group discussions with 134 children aged 6-17 from Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia and Malta.
English
Child Rights Connect
Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ireland, Moldova, Northern Ireland & Spain, 
2025
Gathering children’s and adolescents’ views on age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education. Based on two consultations and a survey with 11 participants from seven European countries, informing a Council of Europe Recommendation.
English
Clémence Orain et al.
France, 
2025
Exploring children with disabilities’ experiences and perspectives on their outdoor play in school playgrounds. Walking and Talking tour interviews were conducted with 13 children aged 6 to 12, with various disabilities.
English
Changefactory
Norway, 
2025
Asking pupils for advice on what it takes for interprofessional collaboration to feel safe. 106 pupils, aged 12-17, gave advice through participatory, qualitative interviews.
English
Department of Education Ireland
Ireland, 
2025
Exploring the views of Traveller and Roma young people in Ireland on their school experience, access to education, and educational outcomes. Based on creative, participatory consultations with 61 young people aged 11-17.
English
Sofia Guichard et al.
Portugal, 
2025
Investigating children’s understandings of the causes of poverty and their views on possible solutions. Based on individual interviews with 248 children aged 8-11 years, using a hypothetical case about a family living in poverty.
English
Jill Duerr Berrick et al.
Norway, Finland, Ireland & USA, 
2025
Examining youth attitudes about child protection from youth in four countries. The study also compares youth attitudes to adult attitudes in Norway and the U.S. The study is based on surveys from 2010 young people aged 15-17.
English
Mazen Baroudi et al.
Sweden, 
2025
Children’s experiences of their rights during the COVID-19 pandemic and their perspectives on how children could be better involved in decision-making during future crises. Based on focus groups with 44 children aged 10-17 in Sweden.
English
Mimi Petersen et al.
Brazil, Denmark, Israel, Norway, and Nicaragua, 
2025
This study analyses outcomes of children and young people’s transformative participation in child welfare, including how they can influence practices and policies. Based on five case studies from Brazil, Denmark, Israel, Norway and Nicaragua.
English
Arefe Jasbi et al.
Norway, 
2025
Adolescents’ perspectives on dental clinical encounters in Norway and identify ways to make these experiences more positive and engaging. Using participatory research methods, qualitative data were collected from 50 adolescents aged 13-19.
English
Bernadine Brady et al.
Ireland, 
2024
Investigating participation in the Youth Advocate Programme (YAP), a large non-profit child welfare organisation. Draws on qualitative interviews and focus groups with young people, parents, advocates, and staff and management.
English
Changefactory
Norway, 
2024
Asking pupils for advice on how adults in school can contribute to more inclusion and less bullying. 240 children, aged 8-18, gave advice through participatory, qualitative interviews.
English
Tonje Helland Lindborg et al.
Norway, 
2024
Understanding the experience of 18 boys aged 12 with mental health and school health services, using focus groups and individual interviews to gather their perspectives.
English
Mikael B. Andersén et al.
Sweden, 
2024
Examining young people’s perceptions of mental health and the factors impacting their willingness to seek help. Qualitative interviews with 21 young people aged 15-22 explore what shapes their views and choices.
English
Jakob Thestrup et al.
Denmark, 
2024
Exploring children’s and adolescents’ perceptions of healthcare professionals and communication in healthcare. Based on play-based interviews with 8 children aged 3-6 and questionnaires with 54 children and adolescents aged 5-18.
English
Changefactory
Norway, 
2024
Asking children for advice on how adults can make it safe for children to trust them, tell safely and decide with them. 211 young people, aged 11-20, gave advice through participatory, qualitative interviews.
English
Ombudsman for Children in Norway
Norway, 
2024
What makes it difficult for children to be at school, and how can it be made easier? The report has collected responses from children and young people through an expert group of six participants aged 14 to 18.
Norwegian
Nalan Sevinçli and B. Ece Şahin
Turkey, 
2024
Gathering insight on how to design better private space in kindergarten with the help of the children’s perspective. 20 children aged 5 to 6 have conveyed their thoughts through drawings, group and individual interviews.
English
“Student Participation in School – From the Students’ Perspective”
Børnerådet, Danske Skoleelver and Unicef Denmark
Denmark, 
2024
Providing insight into how lower secondary students in public schools experience being involved and having influence in their education. Based on a survey of 1836 students and interviews with 6 students.
Danish
“Influence, Exploration and Excitement. Adolescents’ Experiences with Aesthetic Expressions in Teaching”
Hanne Alterhaug
Norway, 
2024
Exploring how students experience teaching that involves aesthetic expressions across the subjects Norwegian, Mathematics, and Social Science. Based on observations, films, and qualitative interviews with 28 pupils aged 15 to 16.
Norwegian

Share with us

We welcome contributions that can strengthen how children are involved in decision-making.

This can include frameworks, guidance, tools, research, reports, or examples of practice.

If you are working on something relevant –  or know of something that should be included – we would like to hear from you.

All submissions are reviewed before being published.

Please ensure that what you share is respectful and that you have permission to share any content, especially when it involves children.