GIVING VOICE TO CHILDREN: CONSIDERATIONS ON QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS

When considering the child as a research subject and attempting to understand their perspective on specific experiences, one must take into account the need to follow meticulous steps to ensure children’s autonomy, as well as respect their stage of development and their ability to comprehend. In this light, the present study aims to make considerations on methodological issues that arise when conducting qualitative interviews with children, based on theoretical research available in current literature. This study employed a bibliographic search for the most relevant questions used when conducting a qualitative interview with children. Three main aspects are discussed: cognitive development, strategies used to approach the children, and ethical criteria for the inclusion and participation of children, with emphasis on consent and confidentiality.