Scottish Government

'Voice of the Child'
Under the Children
(Scotland) Act 1995:
Volume 2 - Feasibility Study

GIVING DUE REGARD TO CHILDREN'S
VIEWS IN ALL MATTERS
THAT AFFECT THEM
VOLUME 2 - FEASIBILITY STUDY

E. Kay M.Tisdall
(Children in Scotland/
University of Edinburgh)
Rachel Baker
(University of Edinburgh)
Kathleen Marshall
(University of Glasgow)
Alison Cleland (Napier University)
with contributions from
Alexandra Plumtree (BAAF) and
Jo Williams (University of Edinburgh)

Scottish Executive Central
Research Unit 2002

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Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND OUTPUTS
METHODS
FINDINGS
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCING
THE FEASIBILITY STUDY
BACKGROUND
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
CHAPTER TWO : LITERATURE
REVIEW ON CHILDREN'S VIEWS
WITHIN PARENTAL DIVORCE
AND SEPARATION
MOVING THE DEBATE ON
CHILDREN'S VIEWS IN FORMAL
PROCEEDINGS: ADULT PERSPECTIVES
CONCLUSIONS
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODS
CONSULTATION WITH CHILDREN
THE RESEARCH PROGRAMME
CONCLUSION
CHAPTER FOUR: REPORT ON FINDINGS
INFORMATION ON RIGHTS AND THE LAW
SEPARATION AND THE FAMILY
SOURCES OF ADVICE AND SUPPORT
OUTSIDE THE FAMILY
ARE YOUNG PEOPLE BEING LISTENED TO?
CHILDREN'S VIEWS OF THE LEGAL
PROCESS AND PROFESSIONALS
CONCLUSIONS
CHAPTER FIVE: REFLECTIONS ON
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
CONCLUSIONS
CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSIONS
1. FINDINGS OF INTEREST THAT ALIGN
WITH OTHER STUDIES' RESULTS
2. FINDINGS THAT FEED DIRECTLY
INTO POLICY
3. FINDINGS OF INTEREST THAT CALL
FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
CONCEPTUALISING HOW DECISION-MAKING
IN CHILDREN'S LIVES TAKES ACCOUNT OF
THEIR VIEWS
SUMMARY OF METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES
ENCOUNTERED IN RESEARCH WITH CHILDREN
GLOSSARY
WORKS CITED
ANNEX 1:
SUMMARY OF THE MAPPING PAPER
ANNEX 2:
CHARACTERISTICS OF PARTICIPANTS
ANNEX 3:
INFORMATION FOR INFORMANTS
ANNEX 4:
INTERVIEW GUIDES
ANNEX 5:
FEEDBACK TO PARTICIPANTS

The views expressed in this report are those of the researcher and
do not necessarily represent those of the Department or Scottish Ministers.