Children as Respondents in Surveys – Methodological Aspects

Session on the occasion of the 7th International Conference of the Research Committee on Logic and Methodology of the International Sociological Association (ISA) hosted in Naples (Italy) September 1-5, 2008

Conference homepage:

http://www.rc332008.unina.it/

Deadline for the submission of abstracts to the session organizer: February 11, 2008.

In Recent years, many surveys have addressed samples of children and adolescents. Today, their behaviors, attitudes and beliefs are predominantly collected directly from them. By contrast, proxy-reporting from parents or other caretakers is no longer seen as a sufficient technique of data collection. Children and adolescents are assumed to be competent respondents who can speak for themselves and who are often more knowledgeable about their own activities. Collecting data directly from them will likely improve data quality. By contrast, the literature has shown that children and adolescents respond to standardized questionnaires based on limited cognitive capacities and still developing social skills. Assuming a negative effect of the limited cognitive and social abilities on the question answer process, the quality of data obtained from children and adolescents has been questioned.

This session aims to provide a forum for researchers interested in methodological aspects of surveys among children and juveniles. Papers on a variety of methodological topics are invited. Among others-but not exclusively, the following topics would be suitable for the session: sampling issues, non-response, measurement error, parental consent, incentives, survey modes for samples of children and juveniles.

Please send abstracts of around 250 (max. 500) words to the session organizer by February 11, 2008.

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