Research Projects
- Relocation following parental separation: The welfare and best interests of children
- Graduate Longitudinal Study New Zealand (GLSNZ)
- Building capacity for ethical research with children and young people
- Dislocation following the Christchurch earthquake: Children and young people's experiences
- Strengthening parenting in Southland
Relocation following parental separation: The welfare and best interests of children
This three-year study was undertaken in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Sydney Faculty of Law who are completing a parallel project in Australia. The research is focused on the experiences of 100 families (parents and children) who have faced a relocation dispute (when a parent wishes to relocate internationally or within New Zealand with their children following parental separation, when the contact between the children and their other parent will be affected by the move). No previous research has been undertaken on the quality of family relationships following a parenting dispute over relocation, nor the welfare and best interests of children in these situations. Hence this research will provide information about the impact on family relationships, children's care and contact arrangements, and the medium-term outcome of domestic or overseas relocation decisions (made either by parental agreement or by the courts).
Research Team
Nicola Taylor, Megan Gollop and Mark Henaghan (Faculty of Law, University of Otago).
Funder
New Zealand Law Foundation (2007-2009) - $315,776.
Download a copy of the Research Report (PDF, 1.2 MB).
Graduate Longitudinal Study New Zealand
An annual New Zealand University Graduate Outcomes Survey was undertaken from 1973-2007. In 2008 a strategic review of this survey was collectively undertaken by the universities under the auspice of the New Zealand Universities. This review led to the decision to discontinue the survey and to institute a new longitudinal survey - the Graduate Longitudinal Study New Zealand being undertaken by the National Centre for Lifecourse Research at the University of Otago. This study surveyed graduates from all eight New Zealand Universities, starting from final year students in 2011, and will reassess them in 2, 5 and 10 years time, to provide a rich picture of their careers, life outcomes and the value of a New Zealand tertiary education.
Researchers
Richie Poulton, Kaa-Sandra Chee, Karen Tustin (National Centre for Lifecourse Research, University of Otago), Nicola Taylor, Megan Gollop (Centre for Research on Children and Families, University of Otago), Mele Taumoepeau and Jackie Hunter (Department of Psychology, University of Otago).
Funders
Tertiary Education Commission, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (2010-2011) - $750,000
Go to the Graduate Longitudinal Study New Zealand website
Building capacity for ethical research with children and young people
In April 2010, the Board of the Childwatch International Research Network – of which the CRCF is a Key Institution - approved the establishment of a new Thematic Study Group to undertake an international scoping project entitled Building Capacity for Ethical Research with Children and Young People. This project aimed to identify the ethical issues and challenges in undertaking research with and for children and young people in different majority and minority world contexts; and to identify and collate existing ethics guidelines and resources. It was anticipated that the findings would extend existing knowledge and provide information and resources that could usefully contribute to promoting the conduct of ethical, respectful research in different cultural and social contexts.
This report presents the findings from the 257 researchers from 46 countries to the Childwatch project. Researchers who undertake research with children were invited to participate in an online survey, which could be accessed through a website link in the email invitation. The survey was administered using Qualtrics online survey software and was open from November 2010 until February 2011.
To the best of our knowledge it is the first international project of its kind to identify and explore the ethical issues facing researchers, in a range of contexts, when undertaking research with children, particularly in relation to participatory research with children.
Researchers
Nicola Taylor (Centre for Research on Children and Families)
Anne Graham, Robyn Fitzgerald and Sallie Newell (Centre for Children and Young People, Southern Cross University).
Funder
Childwatch International Research Network.
Download a copy of the report (PDF, 1.3 MB).
Dislocation following the Christchurch earthquake: Children and young people's experiences
One outcome of the tragic events of the Christchurch earthquake on February 22, 2011, has been the temporary and permanent dislocation of children and young people from their homes, many to other places in New Zealand. This dispersal is on a scale not previously experienced before in New Zealand. This research sought to hear children’s voices about their experiences of post-earthquake relocation. The perspectives of children and young people who relocated to Dunedin and Central Otago and those who remained in Christchurch were ascertained. The experiences of schools accommodating relocated children was also investigated. This research will make an important contribution to knowledge about children’s post-disaster recovery and to the development of improved post-disaster planning mechanisms.
Researchers
Nicola Taylor, Megan Gollop, Ros Herbison (Centre for Research on Children and Families), Claire Freeman (Department of Geography) and Karen Nairn (College of Education), in collaboration with the 'Children as Social Actors' Humanities Research Cluster
Funder
University of Otago Research Grant (2011-2012).
Click here to read a University of Otago press release.
Strengthening parenting in Southland
Our Way Southland, a collaborative community outcomes initiative between Southland's four Councils is co-ordinating a project to develop a regional parenting strategy for Southland to engage parents and to ensure the co-ordinated delivery of quality parenting services, information and support. To inform this parenting strategy the perspectives of parents/caregivers and children and young people living in Southland were sought. The Centre for Research on Children and Families was contracted to design the research instruments for a telephone survey of parents/caregivers in 2011 and conducted focus group interviews with and children and young people during 2012.
Researchers
Megan Gollop, Nicola Taylor and Mele Taumoepeau (Department of Psychology) in consultation with Our Way Southland.
Funder