Ethnographic research: a significant context for engaging young children in dialogues about adults’ writing

This paper brings together socio-cultural theorising about language and literacy learning as well as work which explores ethical issues associated with young children’s participation in research in order to interrogate unplanned discussions between researchers and young children about research writing. The data discussed were derived from two separate ethnographic research projects conducted in English early childhood settings. We argue that dialogues between child participants and adult-researchers are replete with opportunities for learning about researchers’ writing practices and constitute an important ethical research practice in itself. Our key areas of analysis focus on what children can learn about adults’ research writing and what researchers can learn about children as research participants. By positioning such dialogues within broader considerations around ethical research practice and children’s participation we add to the burgeoning literature in this area.