Professor Martin Woodhead
Associate Research Director
Martin is Associate Research Director of Young Lives, and Honorary Associate in the Department of International Development, University of Oxford. His broad based, multi-disciplinary background encompasses theoretical and empirical research in early childhood development, education and care, as well as child labour and children’s rights, with a strong emphasis on policy focussed, international research. He joined Young Lives senior team in 2005 and has contributed to the development of child-focussed survey methods, qualitative research, early childhood and school based research, including numerous publications and presentations.
Martin is Emeritus Professor of Childhood Studies at The Open University, where he was based from 1977-2013 and pioneered interdisciplinary teaching in Childhood and Youth Studies. Martin was co-editor of the journal ‘Children & Society’ 2003-11, and is a member of the editorial board for ‘Childhood’ and advisory board for 'Journal of Early Childhood Research’. Martin was Special Advisor to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, in preparation of General Comment 7: Implementing Child Rights in Early Childhood (2005) and led on the preparation of the UN Secretary General's Status of the UNCRC report of August 2010 to General Assembly 65. Martin has been co-editor of the 'Early Childhood in Focus’ series funded by Bernard van Leer Foundation.
Martin is also Vice-Chair of UNICEF UK's Board of Trustees, and Chair of the Open Society Foundations' Early Child Program Advisory Board.
Many of Martin’s publications can be downloaded at http://oro.open.ac.uk/view/person/mw24.html.
Selected publications:
Woodhead, M., Feathersone, I. Bolton, L and Robertson, P (2014). Early Childhood Development: Delivering Inter‐sectoral Policies, Programmes and Services in Low‐resource Settings. Topic guide commissioned by DFID, November (2014). Oxford: Health & Education Advice & Resource Team (HEART).
Woodhead, M., Frost, M. and James, Z. (2013) ‘Does growth in private schooling contribute to Education for All? Evidence from a longitudinal, two cohort study in Andhra Pradesh, India’, International Journal of Educational Development, 33 (1), 65-73
Woodhead, M., Dornan, P. and Murray, H. (2012) ‘What Inequality Means for Children: evidence from Young Lives’, Background paper to UNICEF/UN Women Global Thematic Consultation on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, New York, http://www.worldwewant2015.org/node/287164
Streuli, N., Vennam, U. and Woodhead, M. (2011) ‘Increasing Choice or Inequality? Pathways through early education in Andhra Pradesh, India’ Working Paper 58 The Hague, Bernard van Leer Foundation/ Young Lives
Woodhead, M. (2009) ‘Child Development and the Development of Childhood’ in J. Qvortrup et al. (eds.) Handbook of Childhood Studies, London: Palgrave
Camfield, L., Streuli, N. and Woodhead, M. (2009) ‘What’s the use of ‘well-being’ in contexts of child poverty? Approaches to research, monitoring and children’s participation” International Journal of Children’s Rights, Vol 17, No 1, pp 65-109
Woodhead, M. and D. Faulkner (2008) ‘Subjects, Objects or Participants: Dilemmas of Psychological Research with Children’ in P. Christensen and A. James (eds.) Research with Children: Perspectives and Practices, London: Falmer Press/Routledge
Woodhead, M. (2006) ‘Changing Perspectives on Early Childhood: Theory, Research and Policy’, International Journal of Equity and Innovation in Early Childhood 4.2: 5−48 (originally published as commissioned background paper to Starting Strong: UNESCO EFA Global Monitoring Report 2007, Paris: UNESCO)
Woodhead, M. (2004) ‘Psychosocial Impacts of Child Work: A Framework for Research, Monitoring and Intervention’, International Journal of Children’s Rights 12: 321−77 (originally published as commissioned research review for ILO/UNICEF/World Bank)
