The Role of Nepalese School Children as Research Participants: Challenges in Qualitative Research

The present research explores the potential methodological challenges in conducting qualitative
fieldwork using schoolgirls in Nepal as participants. It mainly focuses on the logistic, academic, and
social challenges that impact on the scholarly inquiry into aspects of schooling and the broader
society in rural Nepal. Conducting research can be exciting but also very stressful, frustrating, and
problematic. Carrying out research with children can be especially tricky during observation,
conversation, negotiation, and participation. The participants in this study were schoolgirls, and school
dropouts girls (12 - 16 years old), from the Dalit community in Nepal. Schoolchildren, both in school
and school dropouts, particularly girls, are an invaluable source of information on society and
schooling. Schoolchildren are an integral and distinct component of society and are widely considered
to be the future-makers of a country. However, school-aged girls have the right to express their views,
perceptions, opinions, and competencies, as much as adults do. However, their participation in
research activities has been sporadic in Nepal. This research applies various methodological tools to
carry out this qualitative study in the school setting in Nepal and highlights the challenges associated
with these methodologies, particularly the challenges related to confidentiality and interactions when
using children as research participants.