Research methodology & Data

Photographer Michael Monteiro

The data collected to date and in forthcoming surveys is based upon a broad understanding of child welfare, and includes information on child development in addition to the more conventional nutritional and education measures. The project is taking a broad approach to poverty, including assessments of access to key services, work patterns and social relationships as well as core economic indicators such as assets.

The design of the long-term survey is based on studies of existing data relating to child poverty, and on the views of parents and children themselves collected using participatory methods during the preparatory phase of the project.

The main components are as follows:

1. Index children. The study follows a group of approximately 2000 children per country born in the year 2000/1. They were thus an average of 1 year old during round one of the  study. It is intended that the children and their households will be surveyed again when the children are aged 4, 8, 11 and 14. Go to questionnaires.
2. Older cohort children. The study also collects information from approximately 1000 children who were born in 1994 in each country. The children were thus an average of 8 years-old during round one of the study.  Data collection from the older cohort provides both comparative data for the index children and initial findings of interest at an early stage, while allowing the fieldworkers to pilot data collection. Go to questionnaires.
3. Community level data collection. Information about the social, economic and environmental context of each community is being collected at the same time as the surveys. Go to questionnaires.
4. Thematic projects. These are in-depth investigations into key issues raised by the surveys, or issues which are felt to be best examined through qualitative approaches. At least one of the thematic projects will link broad economic policies and children's wellbeing.

The information collected is being interpreted in the light of existing information on social and economic issues, and national and international policy trends. This will ensure that the research draws linkages between the situation of children and key policies.

The first field studies started in June 2002. The second round of quantitative survey was  began late 2006 and was completed early 2007.

Young Lives data is publicly archived in the UK for worldwide online access. Go to the Young Lives data page for more information.

Why is further research needed?

Much information about children living in poverty already exists. However, there are a number of gaps in existing information:

1. Information on child wellbeing is 'segmented' - there is often good information about child health or education, but this is rarely brought together to produce a clear overall picture of children's lives.
2. Information on child wellbeing is often not well disaggregated. What is happening to particular groups of children is often not clear. For example, differences between what is happening to girls and boys, three year olds and ten year olds, or able-bodied and disabled children may be hidden in data that discusses children as one group.
3. Changes in the situation of children are not well documented. Although there may be good 'snapshot' information, there is very little information which examines how the situation of particular groups of children is improving or deteriorating over time. In particular, few holistic longitudinal studies of child wellbeing have been carried out in developing countries.
4. Quantitative and qualitative research are not well integrated. Survey data on child welfare often focuses on issues that are easily measured, such as school attendance, and misses out less tangible issues which children say are important to them such as feeling secure or valued by their family and community. Small scale participatory studies which often show the breadth of young people's concerns are often too small scale to be a good basis for policy making. The insights of both these kinds of studies are rarely combined.
5. Most research does not link the situation of children with broad national and international policies. This means that recommendations for action often stop at the level of development projects and programmes. National and international economic policies which may be equally critical for children's wellbeing are often ignored.
6. Too much research is not well disseminated. Instead it sits on library or office shelves, or is considered interesting but not very useful and is therefore not used. Young Lives is attempting to plug some of these gaps, ensuring that the research design reflects existing knowledge about child wellbeing, and that policy makers and other users are involved in deciding key issues for research.