Using Creative Approaches and Facilitating Remote Online Focus Groups With Children and Young People: Reflections, Recommendations and Practical Guidance

The importance of engaging and involving children young people (CYP) in research is widely recognised, especially for educational exploring CYP’s perceptions experiences school processes. Historically, working with CYP to collect qualitative data has involved face-to-face interactions, however the social distancing requirement during COVID-19 pandemic meant there was a need move ‘online’ work ‘remotely’. In this paper we share our undertaking remote online synchronous focus groups discuss how overcame challenges associated conducting ‘from distance’. We used explore perspectives on education settings can support social, emotional, mental wellbeing. reflect approaches uphold rigour quality, ethically sensitively. have organised into five topics reflecting distinct parts planning, design practice: 1) as advisors shape design, feasibility suitability methods approach; 2) developing creative within increase engagement inclusion; 3) considering logistical technical practice; 4) ethical practice underpinning group collection CYP; 5) valuing participation disseminate findings when from distance participants. present reflections guidance other researchers use CYP, feasible valuable means collecting both time- cost-effective manner.