Best Practice Research Guide: How to Research Children and Online Technologies in Comparative Perspective.

One theme of the work of EU Kids Online network (see Annex A) has been to enhance the understanding of
methodological issues involved in studying children and online technologies across countries. In 2007, EU
Kids Online produced a Methodological Issues Review which aimed to increase awareness of the
specialised issues that arise in researching children's use of online technologies and the criteria by which
research can be critically evaluated (Lobe, Livingstone, & Haddon, 2007). Addressed to a broad audience,
these issues should be of interest to all those concerned with commissioning, designing, conducting and
using empirical research in this field.
The present report translates many of these issues into a positive guide to best practice for those concerned
with research on children and online technologies in Europe and elsewhere. Our starting point is to note that
empirical evidence regarding children's use of the internet and online technologies in Europe relies on four
specific areas of expertise:
- General research orientations, including qualitative and quantitative approaches
- Researching children, including the specific ethical and age-related issues that arise
- Researching online technologies, which may include both familiar and new methods
- Cross-national comparisons - useful strategies for researching in several countries