Reflecting on Successes and Challenges when Conducting Research Studies in Schools

Fitton, Daniel and Sharma, Sumita and Read, Janet C. and Ventä-Olkkonen, Leena and Hartikainen, Heidi and Iivari, Netta and Kinnula, Marianne and Sebastian, Priyanka and Tikkanen, Ruut and Monga, Charu and Horton, Matthew and Gazulla, Eva Durall and Niaz, Yusra and Babai, Najme and Norouzi, Behnaz (2026) Reflecting on Successes and Challenges when Conducting Research Studies in Schools. In: IDC' 26 : Proceedings of the 25th Interaction Design and Children Conference. ACM, New York, pp. 724-733. ISBN 9798400722837

Abstract

While Child–Computer Interaction (CCI) research frequently reports successful outcomes, challenges and failures in studies conducted in school context are rarely examined in detail. This paper addresses this gap through a collective reflection on when and how research with children in school contexts can be considered successful, and what challenges threaten such success. Based on decades of CCI experience from fifteen researchers across multiple countries, the study used a structured, multi-phase process informed by confessional research and child-centered ethics. The analysis identifies nine aspects of success across three areas (stakeholder experience, data generation, and children’s engagement) alongside fifteen recurring challenges organised into seven areas. We also map the relationships between successes and challenges, revealing ethically consequential tensions often overlooked in published accounts. The paper offers practical guidance, an analytical vocabulary, and a reflective method to foster more transparent and ethical CCI research in school settings.