Child Welfare Children's Experiences of Violence

[The following text is an example or "case", which can serve as a starting point for reflection and discussion. Some examples may be based on real events, while others are fictional representations.] 

A research group at a Norwegian university college aims to investigate the extent of violence experienced by children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 while living in child welfare institutions. They plan to conduct an anonymous survey among children residing in institutions in the counties of Viken, Møre og Romsdal, Innlandet, and Troms og Finnmark. The study has been commissioned by the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth, and Family Affairs.

The survey will ask respondents to provide detailed accounts of any experiences of violence. It will also inquire whether the respondent or others were subjected to violence, whether the perpetrator was another resident, an employee at the institution, or someone outside the institution, or whether the respondent themselves engaged in violent behavior.

The results of the study will serve as a basis for assessing the need for measures to combat violence in child welfare institutions. The researchers argue that the findings will provide crucial information that could ultimately help improve the children's living conditions.

The plan is to recruit participants through child welfare services in the relevant counties, possibly via the managers of individual institutions. The children will receive an information letter explaining the purpose of the study, assuring them of anonymity and confidentiality, and informing them that they may withdraw their responses at any point in the process.

• What do you think about the researchers' approach to recruiting the children?
• How can researchers ensure confidentiality and prevent indirect identification of participants based on the information they provide?
• The survey is anonymous, and responses will be treated confidentially. However, some of the reported experiences may involve acts of violence that constitute criminal offenses. How should researchers handle this information?
• Are there specific ethical considerations researchers should take into account when obtaining consent from the children?
• Would the ethical concerns be different if the study focused on adults' experiences of violence? If so, how and why?

Note: This is a translation of the Norwegian original text by Johanne Svanes Oskarsen.