Methods, Ethics, and Cross-Language Considerations in Research With Ethnic Minority Children

This study focused on providing a voice for ethnic minority children in childhood obesity literature. Methods The purpose of the study was to discover cultural influences on healthy weight care in children of Burmese refugees of Karen ethnicity. Researchers may exclude children of ethnic minorities from studies because of the distinct challenges in conducting cross-language research and research with children. We critically examine these challenges. The challenge of being a stranger was addressed by a period of immersion in the children’s activities prior to data collection, in addition to volunteering as an English teacher with Karen adults. The immersion period was crucial for developing the trust needed in child-inclusive research and research in ethnic minority communities. The challenge of designing an inclusive study with families who experience language barriers was addressed with an interpreter who not only spoke Karen but was also a part of the Karen community. The interpreter provided the authentic sociocultural language equivalence needed for the study’s rigor. Ensuring the child’s voice was clearly heard was addressed with member checking. Methodological changes necessitated by a pandemic were a distinct challenge discussed in detail. Results We described methods useful for nurse researchers seeking transformative knowledge to reduce health disparities in childhood obesity. Nurse researchers may use these methods related to cross-language resea...
Source: Nursing Research - Category: Nursing Tags: METHODS Source Type: research