Tips for successful research
Help and advice from the Child Protection in Sport Unit
Do...
- Make the most of opportunities for advice and supervision. Make sure you get in-depth advice about appropriate ethical and research methods and project design. Consult your tutor or colleagues working in related academic and professional fields such as social work, psychiatry or counselling.
- Plan your research well. Write a research proposal and make sure that it is checked before you begin.
- Clarify the definitions of all your key concepts and your research question(s) before you start. Consider these decisions carefully. The fact that there is no single, agreed definition of abuse or harassment makes it impossible to compare the findings of many research studies Taking the time to be clear at the beginning of the project will save time at the end.
- Justify your methods of data collection and analysis. Why have you selected a particular approach to data collection and analysis? Is this the best approach to provide the information you need to answer your research questions? How rigorous is your approach? Are there other methods/combinations of methods you could consider? What is possible and appropriate to do bearing in mind your own experience, training, resources and time? Consider whether or not your research question could be answered using secondary sources (publications, documents, secondary analysis of data already etc). Primary sources, such as data from focus group research and face-to face interviews, should not be used for research into experience of child abuse unless you are a postgraduate student and/or have been trained in clinical or research practices.
- Identify and address any ethical issues raised by your research. For information on ethical guidance, see the
CPSU Research Ethics Guidance (PDF, 76KB)
. Get your approach to the ethical issues approved in advance by an appropriate ethics committee or tutor.
- Get informed consent. Always seek voluntary informed consent from anyone you wish to use as an informant/participant. Take every precaution necessary to protect the confidentiality of personal information (names, locations, contact details). If a person does not wish to be involved in your project or asks to withdraw at a later stage, you must respect their wishes.
- Remember that the law requires you to gain parental consent before anyone under 18 years old can take part in a research project.
- Take steps to reduce upset caused by the research. Remember that child abuse is a topic that arouses strong feelings. Use the utmost care and sensitivity when planning projects and when making approaches to potential research subjects. Think about how your research might affect people you approach for help.
- Consider researcher safety. Avoid putting yourself in any situation where you are isolated with subjects or might be accused of doing something wrong. Think carefully about your reasons for working in this field. Have a personal support system in place (a friend or mentor) in case the work upsets you.
- Be organised. Keep a careful record of all the sources (both documents and people) that you consult so you can retrace these details easily later on. Nothing is more annoying than being unable to find a reference, page number or contact address when you need it for your final report.
- Consider data security and confidentiality.
- Seek advice and agree on your responsibilities for child protection. Any research with children and young people raises the possibility that information might be given which suggests a child or young person may be in danger. You should consider before starting your research what you would do if a child or young person told you they were being abused or if an adult said something that suggested they were abusing a child.
- Make sure you complete our checklist for good practice in research into child protection in sport before you start your project.
Don't...
- Assume people will have time to help you. If you approach individuals for help, don't assume they will have the time or resources necessary to help you to do your research.
- Begin without advice. Do not start to collect empirical (practical) data until you have received in-depth advice from appropriately qualified tutors.
- Expect others to do the work. Do not ask sports coaches, leisure centre managers, or others to carry out tasks on your behalf. For example, handing out questionnaires or asking others to agree to be involved in your project.
- Comment on disputes or problems over child abuse in sport that your participants may be experiencing. Instead, if necessary refer them to the National Governing Body for the sport in question or to the NSPCC Child Protection Helpline 0808 800 5000.
- Undertake projects that involve interviewing people about their experiences of abuse unless you are a postgraduate and/or involved in professional clinical training and/or have the support and guidance of a qualified research supervisor. You could unintentionally cause renewed trauma to individuals who have already had seriously disturbing experiences.
When you've finished it, don't forget to...
- Thank those who have assisted you (participants, tutors and advisers).
- Give feedback on your findings to participants who want to know.
- Destroy all raw data OR remove names, places, dates and any other identifying features from your data.
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Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH. Incorporated by Royal Charter. Registered charity number 216401. NSPCC, charity registered in Scotland, charity number SC037717.