Abstract
This paper reports on the development of a child-friendly data collection tool in the context of the Peer2Peer research project (http://peer-2-peer.co.uk/) which aims to investigate how design-based relational play can be used to encourage children with cerebral palsy, aged 7 to 10 years, to engage pro-actively in peer social interactions to support their social-emotional wellbeing. To collect relevant data about the determinants and difficulties of children’s participation in peer social interactions and making friends, we developed a child-friendly data collection tools: face-to-face questionnaire ‘Dino’ and ‘All about me’ profile pages. Both tools were developed to support and complement observations of the children, and semi-structured interviews with their parents and practitioners. Data collection took place at two special schools in the United Kingdom. ‘Dino’ questionnaire uses a narrative story about gamified virtual character – a little blue dinosaur Bella which guides children in completing the questionnaire. All the questions are connected through the storyline and prompts the children to share their own story, making children feel that they are playing with and helping the virtual character in the story rather than completing classroom tasks. For researchers, using fictional characters and storylines as a medium can help to shift roles and see issues more closely from the perspective of children with cerebral palsy, rather than imposing their own academic views and stereotypes on them. The tools contribute to the area of design for health and wellbeing and can be adopted and used by other researchers working with children with disabilities.
Presenters
Ganna BorzenkovaResearch Fellow, Design, Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Thinking, Learning, Doing: Plural Ways of Design
KEYWORDS
Children, Cerebral Palsy, Child-Friendly Tools, Wellbeing
