Researching Youth on the Move: Methods, Ethics and Emotions

A special issue of Social Sciences (ISSN 2076-0760). This special issue belongs to the section "Childhood and Youth Studies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 October 2024) | Viewed by 4356

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Communication, Pompeu Fabra University, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: social anthropology; cultural studies; adolescent development

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Communication, Pompeu Fabra University, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: social and cultural anthropology; communication and language

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The sociology of the youth and youth cultures has left its youthful stage and has entered a phase of maturity. Since the mid-20th century, the youth in general, and youth cultures as an expression of identity that goes beyond the age group, have been studied as a metaphor for social change, the condensed image of a post-industrial society in transformation. During the first quarter of the 21st century, the digital world has been incorporated as a space for cultural expression and creativity, in which young people act as the vanguard of technological, social and mental transformations that are then transferred to the whole social body. Today, new generations of researchers from different social science fields (sociology, anthropology, social psychology, communication, education, etc.) are exploring youth cultures as a privileged research laboratory, where they can listen to emerging social trends. Nevertheless, research on youth implies important methodological and ethical challenges that are comparatively less shared and discussed. The field of methodology in youth research is still in need of improvement, development and critical reflections.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to compile the results of recent research on youth and youth cultures, from the perspective of the "toolbox" used and reflections on research methodologies and techniques, whether qualitative, quantitative or mixed. It also will collect articles on ethics protocols and emotional involvement in fieldwork research with young people.

Studies and reflections on the following topics are welcomed:

  • Innovative methodologies applied to youth studies;
  • Participatory action research;
  • Comparative studies at the transnational level;
  • Metaethnography;
  • Autoethnography and autobiography;
  • Youth cultures and big data;
  • The transfer of research in youth: observatories, laboratories, activities;
  • Ethics in youth research;
  • Emotional involvement in fieldwork research with young people.

Prof. Dr. Carles Feixa
Dr. Nele Hansen
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • youth
  • youth cultures
  • participatory research
  • methodology
  • techniques
  • ethnography
  • meta-ethnography
  • life stories
  • ethics
  • emotions

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 247 KiB  
Article
Researching as a Commoner: Affect and the Lives of Underprivileged Mobile Youth in Greece
by Stelios Pantazidis and Yannis Pechtelidis
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14010019 - 5 Jan 2025
Viewed by 876
Abstract
This paper examines the role of commons-based activist ethnography in reshaping the dynamics between researchers and underprivileged mobile youth (UMY), focusing on the opportunities and ethical challenges of this approach. Conducted in youth centers in Thessaloniki, Greece, the study explores how trust, affect, [...] Read more.
This paper examines the role of commons-based activist ethnography in reshaping the dynamics between researchers and underprivileged mobile youth (UMY), focusing on the opportunities and ethical challenges of this approach. Conducted in youth centers in Thessaloniki, Greece, the study explores how trust, affect, and collaborative knowledge creation supported agency among UMY while confronting systemic barriers and power asymmetries. Using qualitative ethnographic methods, the research investigates the role of convivial spaces and the ambiance of the commons in creating meaningful connections and emotional resilience, enabling the participants to articulate aspirations and reclaim agency. The dual role of the researcher as an advocate and observer raised questions about representation and power dynamics. This paper contributes to discussions on activist ethnography by offering insights into its possibilities and limitations in advancing transformative research with marginalized populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Researching Youth on the Move: Methods, Ethics and Emotions)
20 pages, 296 KiB  
Article
Gardening School to Support Youth Inclusion and Environmental Sustainability in Morocco
by Salma Idrissi Boutaybi, Tiia Hartikainen, Yahia Benyamina and Sofia Laine
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(12), 687; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13120687 - 18 Dec 2024
Viewed by 707
Abstract
Youth research has, for decades, focused on examining current societal conditions and their potential shortcomings for young people in areas such as education, income, work, and gender equality. However, it has been less common to integrate planetary boundaries and so-called “overshoot” areas—such as [...] Read more.
Youth research has, for decades, focused on examining current societal conditions and their potential shortcomings for young people in areas such as education, income, work, and gender equality. However, it has been less common to integrate planetary boundaries and so-called “overshoot” areas—such as biodiversity loss or climate change—into youth research. This paradigm shift is increasingly necessary, as six out of nine planetary boundaries have already been crossed, and the planet remains on track for approximately 2.7 degrees Celsius (°C) peak warming by 2100. In addition to planetary threats, Morocco faces social challenges, particularly high unemployment. Unemployment is highest among young people aged 15 to 24, reaching 25% over the past decade, nearly double the global youth unemployment rate. This article analyzes a case study we refer to as the “Gardening School” in Morocco, a country facing significant climate stress. It aims to (a) explore new methods for conducting more globally oriented youth research that is ethical and environmentally friendly and (b) examine the wellbeing of young people and their environment, as well as how to support and strengthen both. The findings of this article highlight the potential for youth research to develop new approaches, especially when conducted alongside young people and educational and sustainable environments. These environments enable younger generations to deepen their connection to and understanding of biodiversity, sustainability, and climate change, while learning to use natural resources in a sustainable and ethical manner. This approach ultimately aims to ensure a livable future for the coming generations and foster sustainable employment opportunities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Researching Youth on the Move: Methods, Ethics and Emotions)
21 pages, 5813 KiB  
Article
Audiovisual Ethnography, Community Cinema, and Youth Participation: Filmed and Filming Fieldwork Experiences from Chile
by Víctor Villegas-Campillo
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(12), 671; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13120671 - 12 Dec 2024
Viewed by 529
Abstract
This article examines audiovisual ethnography as an anthropological method to understanding community cinema and youth participation through the audiovisual chain of a film piece, which encompasses the processes of watching, making, and exhibiting as an integrated sequence. This chain allows us to understand [...] Read more.
This article examines audiovisual ethnography as an anthropological method to understanding community cinema and youth participation through the audiovisual chain of a film piece, which encompasses the processes of watching, making, and exhibiting as an integrated sequence. This chain allows us to understand the dynamics of youth participation in all stages of audiovisual production, from creating an idea through production to the reception by the community. To this end, the relationship between participatory audiovisual practices and the promotion of youth mental health is explored through the case study “Aquí Nos Vemos Program”, which involves the creation of audiovisual narratives as a means of emotional and community expression. Fieldwork in Pudahuel, Santiago, Chile, provides ethnographic data on the creative audiovisual processes of young people around cinema and how these activities foster recognition and improvement of youth well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Researching Youth on the Move: Methods, Ethics and Emotions)
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17 pages, 2010 KiB  
Article
Youth Photographed: Methodologies for Visual Analysis
by Marcela Saa-Espinoza and Oscar Aguilera-Ruiz
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(10), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13100547 - 15 Oct 2024
Viewed by 997
Abstract
In this article, we propose a methodological reflection based on the work with photographs of youth published in print media in Chile during the 20th century. We use our proposal for qualitative analysis, which includes intentional work with visual culture, the creation of [...] Read more.
In this article, we propose a methodological reflection based on the work with photographs of youth published in print media in Chile during the 20th century. We use our proposal for qualitative analysis, which includes intentional work with visual culture, the creation of our own archives, and the development of tools for individual and group analysis of photographs. We propose two specific strategies for the analysis of photographs: the first is “layered analysis”, and the second is “group or panel analysis”, which allows for linking images, culture, and youth. We trust that this methodological reflection will contribute to the study of youth and stimulate debate in the field of study itself. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Researching Youth on the Move: Methods, Ethics and Emotions)
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