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The Case for Youth-Engaged Research
The featured cases and their companion playbook are written for researchers who value the perspectives of young people but wonder whether they have the knowledge, capacity, and skills to involve them in a meaningful and supportive way.
These case studies illustrate that youth-engaged research is not just possible; it is incredibly rewarding, and with the right support systems, those new to this way of working can meaningfully include young people as research collaborators. They describe how two research teams realized the power of collaborating with young people at strategic points in the research process and came away with insights that would not have emerged without the critical input of their youth collaborators.
For Hopelab and CDT, intentionally engaging young people in research brought key insights, perspectives, and new questions that would not have otherwise emerged. These cases remind us that effective youth engagement requires an openness to having adult ideas challenged and a genuine embrace of the expert knowledge that young people hold.
Key learnings from Hopelab's Youth Engaged Research
Meet young people where they are
Through trial and error, the Hopelab team discovered that its expectations for engagement in online focus groups did not always align with youth norms and preferences. For instance, some young people kept their cameras off during Zoom conversations due to technical constraints or differing comfort levels. Others experienced technological challenges by joining from phones instead of laptops, which impacted participation. There was also significant variation in engagement style — some spoke freely, while others were more hesitant or preferred communicating in writing. These initial observations motivated adjustments going forward. For example, during focus group conversations, facilitators actively encouraged different ways of communicating, such as speaking, writing in the chat, reacting with emojis, or adding a “+1” via chat when someone shared a resonant comment. Providing multiple pathways for participation helped cultivate group rapport and allowed for deeper probing into sensitive topics like LGBTQ+ identity.
Begin with the impact you want to have
The process matters as much as the product
Key Insights from the Center For Digital Thriving’s Youth- Engaged Research
Staying flexible makes a difference
CDT approached their youth-engaged work with an overarching interest in supporting young people’s digital agency and well-being yet allowed their research agenda to evolve naturally toward this goal. They paused at each critical decision point, engaged with young people as possible, and let youth knowledge and input inform their decision-making. By remaining flexible yet closely in touch with their core aim, CDT was able to embrace real-time feedback, pivot, and create space to explore entirely new lines of work. This approach led to research on “grind culture,” and it also inspired new resources designed with sensitivity to and alignment with young people’s lived experiences.
Insider knowledge provides context and nuance
Working with youth advisors improves the research quality