International Union for Circumpolar Health Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of RF Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Medical Polar Fund “Science” The Northern Forum

Abstracts

Public health

This paper discusses how research and formalised knowledge influences decision-making concerning Greenlandic children and youth. In doing so, the paper addresses two conspicuous issues: the lack of cross-disciplinary research and the lack of the voice of children and youth in the research.

The paper is based on interviews with decision-makers and researchers and on tracing the life circle of some of the more influential publications concerning Greenlandic children and youth. The research design is derived from discussions within evaluation theory which direct our attention to the multi-facetted use or influence of evaluation, i.e. in this context research (see e.g. Cunnings 1997, Kirkhart 2000). This is embedded in a social constructivist perspective that takes into account the institutions involved in research and interactions concerning research and decision-making.

As the research for this paper is ongoing, conclusions can only be presented in preliminary form. It is apparent that decision-makers from all of the three areas mainly concerned with decision-making about children and youth, namely education, health and social affairs, are giving this topic attention. It is also apparent that the level and type of influence from research differs greatly from one area to another. This is among other things based on very different institutional set-ups and traditions which affect the amount of research carried out, the involvement of decision-makers in research as well as the topics and the methods used. Concerning the lack of children and youth’s own voice this is expected to be related to pragmatic problems of providing sufficient anonymity to informants in small societies and having sufficient resources for analysing qualitative data. However, it is also expected to be related to what is provisionally called a “government perspective” where things are done for – rather than with – children and youths. Concerning the lack of cross-disciplinary research this is similarly expected to be explained with lack of resources and traditions. It is also expected to be apparent that, despite the increased demand for cross-disciplinary research, there are currently very few formal incentives or institutional carriers for researchers to carry out such research.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

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Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)