Critically explore the power dynamic between researcher(s) and research participant(s) in qualitative investigations involving children and young people.

Critically explore the power dynamic between researcher(s) and research participant(s) in qualitative investigations involving children and young people. In particular, examine the impact different methods or methodological approaches can have upon this dynamic relationship.
In your answer refer to a minimum of three research sources including either Pincock and Jones (2020) or Horgan (2017).

The word length of TMA 02 is 1925 words (excluding your title and list of references). Before starting work for this TMA, you should:

The assignment has been structured to enable you to start developing a range of independent literature searching skills, which will also help you to research and write TMA 03 and your project at the end of the module. TMA 02 asks you to include material from one of the two research articles listed under main sources.

Main sources
The main sources of material for this assignment are:
• Block 2, Units 7–12 (including relevant audio-visual materials)
• Module Reader Chapter 6 ‘Research design’ by Martyn Hammersley – cite as (Hammersley, 2014) in your assignment
• Module Reader Chapter 7 ‘Participant observation’ by Heather Montgomery – cite as (Montgomery, 2014) in your assignment
• Module Reader Chapter 8 ‘Interviews’ by Rosie Flewitt – cite as (Flewitt, 2014) in your assignment
• Module Reader Chapter 9 ‘Working with texts, images and artefacts’ by Helen Hearn and Pat Thomson – cite as (Hearn and Thomson, 2014) in your assignment
• Module Reader Chapter 10 ‘Methodological ideas’ by Martyn Hammersley – cite as (Hammersley, 2014) in your assignment
• The articles included in the Research Articles Collection for Block 2.
And refer to one of the following articles:
Either
Pincock, K. and Jones, N. (2020) ‘Challenging power dynamics and eliciting marginalized adolescent voices through qualitative methods’, International Journal of Qualitative Methods, January 2020. doi:10.1177/1609406920958895.
Or
Horgan, D. (2017) ‘Child participatory research methods: attempts to go ‘deeper’’, Childhood, 24(2), pp. 245–259.
Suggested approach
TMA 02 covers your study of Block 2, Units 7 to 12 inclusive. You have been introduced to several examples of research with children and young people using different research methods and methodological approaches.
In this TMA you are asked to critically explore the power dynamic between the researcher(s) and research participant(s). In particular, you are asked to think about how this balance of power may be impacted upon by the choice of data collection method and/or methodological approaches taken in research with children and young people.
As well as thinking about what power means within research, you will need to decide whether to situate your explorations around how power dynamics are impacted upon by particular research methods (with data collection methods such as interviews, observations, use of artefacts or visual/artistic methods) or research methodological approaches (with philosophical approaches such as interpretivism, constructionism, critical or youth-orientated research), or a combination and comparison of the two. Whichever focus you choose, you will need to make this clear within your introduction.
• In writing your TMA, you should use the article you have downloaded alongside the materials in both the Module Reader and the website.
• Remember to read your chosen article and the module materials with a focus in mind: search for and explore the examples and ideas around methodology or methods within each one and its impact on the power dynamics. For example, if using the article by Pincock and Jones (2020), you could explore the discussions around how understanding power dynamics can contribute to understanding the plurality of adolescent voices in research and how researchers can make visible the views and experiences of those who are sometimes marginalised or overlooked in research – for example disabled young people. The article by Horgan (2017) is perhaps more controversial and you might find yourself disagreeing with the author about the insurmountability of the power differentials between adult researchers and child informants. You should critically analyse Horgan’s arguments and think about how these power differences influence the research process.
• Please note that you are being asked to comment on a minimum of three sources (research studies) in order to reach the pass criteria in this area of the marking scheme.
• At least two of these sources will come from the module materials mentioned in the TMA guidance; the other source must be the journal article you have chosen from the two choices given.
• To gain greater depth and levels of critique within your TMA you may need to use more than the minimum number of sources: ensure you make full use of relevant module materials from Block 2 (the module reader, online activities and AV materials), as well as the research article you have chosen from the two options given.

Suggested structure
Do note these are suggestions. You may choose to follow the suggested structure or to devise your own structure for your assignment.
• TMA 02 asks you to critically explore the power dynamic between the researcher and research participants in qualitative investigations involving children and young people. You are asked to examine this issue by focusing on the impact different methods or methodological approaches can have upon the power dynamic. Therefore, in your introduction you should set out which particular focus your TMA will take upon this issue of power: the impact of methods, the impact of methodological approaches or a combination of the two.
• After this, use your introduction to let your reader know what main themes your TMA will use to explore these issues as well as the overall critical point your assignment will aim for by its conclusion.
• In the main body of your TMA you may wish to begin by exploring key definitions, such as what we mean by ‘power’ dynamics between the researcher and the researched participant in qualitative investigations with children and young people.
• You might then want to explore module materials and various research examples of such power dynamics impacted upon by your chosen focus (such as particular data collection methods and/or methodological approaches and theoretical frameworks used within research).
• You will need to draw on examples from both the module materials and the article you have chosen to work with.
• Do remember the importance of developing a critical rather than just a descriptive style in your answer.