Little big researchers: children creating knowledge about school engagement in Chile

Abstract

More than 30 years after the Convention on the Rights of the Child recognized their right to partici-pate, research continues to be predominantly about children but not carried out with them. This study seeks to contribute to the incorporation of children as producers of knowledge in their schools. It is a longitudinal qualitative study in which 64 children assumed the role of co-researchers on the topic of school engagement. This was achieved through workshops that used a participatory action research methodology, interviews and analysis undertaken by the children themselves. The study identified different perceptions about the subtypes of school engagement and associated con-textual factors that enrich adult analysis, as well as the importance of complementing quantitative data collected in schools with the voices of children, who in this process act as agents of change. The authors conclude the article with identifying how to achieve more meaningful child participation in research studies. © 2023 Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales. All rights reserved.