Abstract

The paper develops a critical reflection upon the methodological and ethical challenges of researching the food practices of low-income families with children. We draw on data and fieldwork experience in Portugal, within a recently completed European research project. The study aimed to understand children’s experiences and views about the place of food in their lives, drawing on sociological approaches to childhood that conceptualize children as social agents, active participants within families and competent experts on their own social and interactional worlds. These assertions underlie the project’s mixed-method approach (in-person interviews, questionnaires and photo-elicitation). We argue that beyond well-known ethical challenges (such as gatekeeping, power asymmetries, reciprocity and active participation), food and food poverty bring forth unique dilemmas, which may affect children’s participation in research. Following the dimensions suggested by Tracy, our contribution offers a reflexive account of ethics-in-practice of how we dealt with ethical dilemmas on the field.

摘要

本文对研究有孩子的低收入家庭的饮食习惯的方法和伦理挑战进行了批判性思考。在最近完成的欧洲研究项目中，我们利用了葡萄牙的数据和实地工作经验。该研究旨在了解儿童的经历和对食物在他们生活中的地位的看法，利用儿童社会学方法将儿童概念化为社会代理人、家庭中的积极参与者以及他们自己的社会和互动世界的有能力的专家。这些断言是该项目混合方法（面对面访谈、问卷调查和照片启发）的基础。我们认为，除了众所周知的道德挑战（如把关、权力不对称、互惠和积极参与）之外，食物和食物贫困带来了独特的困境，可能会影响儿童参与研究。按照 Tracy 建议的维度，我们的贡献提供了对我们如何处理该领域的道德困境的实践伦理的反思性说明。