This page focuses on the trainings we provided to support youth researchers in data collection processes. To co-lead focus groups and interviews, the Safety 7 participated in trainings about human subjects research and facilitation to ensure they were well versed in ethical data collection.
Human subjects research training
For the Safety 7 to co-lead data collection, they needed to learn about human subjects research. We led two training sessions covering the following information:
- Ethical principles of the Belmont Report
- Risk and consent
- Privacy and confidentiality
- Data security
- Cultural competence in research
Throughout these trainings, we incorporated activities to clarify information, if needed, and reinforce the concepts. The youth researchers completed an activity identifying ethical and unethical practices, ensuring they could easily tell the difference between the two. At the end of the two training sessions, they also engaged in a game of jeopardy, reviewing and testing their understanding of human subjects research concepts.
While required under our Institutional Review Board and funder, these trainings are also necessary to ensure those engaged in data collection understand their obligations to safety and confidentiality. Beyond the obligations, the Safety 7 also learned about how research ethics support building trust with participants and their own confidence in collecting data responsibly.
Example facilitation guides, activities, and other resources
- Understanding Human Subjects Research Part 1 Facilitation Guide – This facilitation guide supports youth in learning about human subjects research.
- Understanding Human Subjects Research Part 1 Presentation – This presentation covers human subjects research topics, such as research ethics, consent, confidentiality, and privacy.
- Unethical Research Practices Worksheet – This worksheet asks youth researchers to consider different research practices and scenarios, determining which are ethical and unethical. This worksheet was used in the first meeting to reinforce the learnings.
- Understanding Human Subjects Research Part 2 Facilitation Guide – This facilitation guide supports youth in learning about cultural competency and reinforcing information about research ethics.
- Understanding Human Subjects Research Part 2 Presentation - This presentation explains cultural competency and humility, and reviews additional information about human subjects research.
- Human Subjects Research Jeopardy – This presentation helps youth test their human subjects research knowledge through a facilitated jeopardy game.
Facilitation training
We also led facilitation trainings because the youth researchers were co-leading focus groups and interviews. Our training focused on how to:
- Welcome participants into data collection
- Set a positive environment
- Review consent and confidentiality
- Listen attentively
- Use nonverbal cues to encourage responding
- Encourage different ideas or perspectives
- Clarify questions if asked by participants
- Keep discussion on topic
- Ask follow-up questions
- Summarize what has been learned
- Handle logistical and technical problems
- Take detailed notes
The Safety 7 ran through simulated focus groups and interviews to practice the above skills. Using rubric worksheets, their fellow youth researchers scored the facilitator and facilitator assistant on how well they facilitated the practice conversation. We completed these practice data collection discussions until all Safety 7 members had an opportunity to facilitate and be scored by their peers.
We reflected as a group on the facilitation experiences and lessons learned. The youth researchers not only felt more confident in managing focus groups and interviews after practicing, but they discussed how they felt better equipped to create equitable spaces, navigate group dynamics, support honest and sensitive conversations, and develop reflections processes for themselves to debrief data collection.
Example facilitation guides, activities, and other resources
- Focus Group Training Rubric Worksheet – This worksheet supports youth researchers as they develop their focus group facilitation skills.
- Interview Training Rubric Worksheet – This worksheet supports youth researchers as they develop their interview facilitation skills.
The Safety 7 includes seven youth researchers (Zionnah Garnett, Elijah Jones, London Mclean, Jermese Perkins, Ife Tobechi, Ike Tobechi, and Meagan Tutt) who make all key research decisions in partnership with staff from Child Trends and Sasha Bruce Youthwork. The Safety 7 is supported by Quiana Lewis Wallace and Deja Logan from Child Trends, Courtney Gibbs, and Bianca Faccio from Sasha Bruce Youthwork. Principal investigators for the study are Samantha Holquist and Quiana Lewis Wallace (Child Trends) with support from Kelly Murphy. Jennifer Widstrand (Child Trends) served as the Project Director. Additional contributions came from Ja’Chelle Ball, Kenya Downing, Jessica Conway, Olivia Reyes, and Alyssa Scott (Child Trends), and Deborah Shore, Donnell Potts, Ivana Gutierrez, and Jane McGhee (Sasha Bruce Youthwork).
If you have questions about the Centering Youth Experiences to Address Community Violence project, please contact Principal Investigator Quiana Lewis Wallace at qlewiswallace@childtrends.org.
This project was supported by Award No. 15PNIJ-22-GG-01420-RESS, awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice.