Step-by-step, what is Research Buddies' standard procedure for working with children?   A research team looking to learn about child development will meet with teachers and school administrators to explain their research. Consent forms and informational letters will be sent home. Only those pupils with parental consent will be asked to participate. The researchers may then spend time with the participants in a group setting, such as on the playground, to introduce themselves and make sure the pupils are comfortable. In some cases, the session will take place at school, such as in an office or the school library. In other cases, participants and their parents will be invited to the university on their own time for the session.

Why do University researchers need to work with children?   Every stage of child development is unique, and capturing data at each of these stages gives researchers valuable insight about the way children acquire knowledge and skills. This research helps to inform educational practice to the benefit of teachers and pupils alike.

Will participating in Research Buddies get in the way of our school routine?   Research Buddies are totally committed to working with staff and teachers, planning our research sessions to fit around lessons and schedules, and always adhering to school policies. The sessions will be brief and apropriate for the participants’ ages and comfort levels. Researchers will work with teachers and administrators to ensure sessions complement, not detract from, regular lesson schedules. Our aim is to minimise disturbance to the daily routine of the school.

What about ethics and security?   Research Buddies researchers are overseen not only by Newcastle University, but also by our own steering commitee to ensure that all regulations and guidelines are followed. Our projects have undergone full scrutiny by both the Newcastle University Ethics Committee and the Research Buddies Steering Commitee. All project data will be stored in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Researchers working with the participants will have a current DBS check. Any additional security policies required by the school will also be followed.

Why would children want to participate?   The data collection session will take the form of a game, designed to be age-appropriate and engage the children’s interest. Common games and activities for younger pupils include playing on a computer, matching words with pictures, arranging blocks or shapes into patterns, and acting out words and phrases using toys. For older pupils, data collection sessions may include verbal reasoning tasks, language-based games, grammaticality judgement tasks, or reading activities. There are no “right” or “wrong” answers. The aim of the session is to discover what is most natural for each participant. Researchers often find that the pupils enjoy the activities so much, their peers are excited to try it and ask to go next!

Why would my school want to participate?   Evidence-based learning is gaining prominence in the educational community. Our research into child development helps to bring this into the classroom. Further, by collaborating with pupils from an early age, we hope to spark young people’s interest in scientific discovery. Ater the project is concluded, the school will receive a copy of the study’s results, and researchers may offer to conduct an informational session explaining how pupil participation helped generate those results. In some cases, they may offer to conduct teaching sessions about the scientific process or other relevant subjects, as agreed with the school. Where age-appropriate, researchers may invite the class to visit the university. If your school chooses to pursue one of the many grants supporting knowledge sharing within the community, evidence-based learning in schools, or other relevant subjects, Newcastle University could offer support for your application.