Theory and Method in Child and Youth Research

June 10-12 , 2015
European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus

We are pleased to announce the 3^rd international conference of theInternational Childhood and Youth Research Network (ICYRNet) which isorganized by the Center for the Study of Childhood and Adolescence and the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, European University Cyprus.    

Confirmed keynote speakers:

• Jo Boyden, Professor and Director of Young Lives, Oxford University
• Dan Cook, Professor of Childhood Studies, Rutgers University

The Network’s mission is to promote, internationally, the inter-disciplinary study of children and young people in order to further raise awareness and understanding of issues that affect their well-being. The Network which was established in 2008 has a global membership of both organizations and individuals and has so far organized two international conferences.  The first conference of the Network was also organized in Nicosia and was attended by over 250 delegates from around the globe.  The 2^nd conference, organized in Preston, UK at the University of Central Lancashire, was similarly successful – and also notable in that we had a parallel conference planned and organised by children and young people. In this 3^rd international conference of the ICYRNet, we focus more explicitly on theory and method in child and youth research using a critical lens to examine the epistemological frameworks which have guided so far the production of knowledge about children and youth and to reflect on the new, emerging possibilities for producing knowledge in the future.

Though the conference focuses on theory and method and will clearly appeal to academics, the organizers are also interested in how epistemological issues impact policy-making and practice and how in turn the work of policy-makers and practitioners impacts the development of theory and method in child and youth research. In this light, the conference organizers welcome proposals for presentations from academics/researchers, policy makers, practitioners and others who work in childhood and youth studies locally, nationally and globally.

Although there is no parallel conference on this occasion, we do want to encourage contributions from children and young people (with or without adult collaboration) and will extend a friendly welcome to any children and young people who wish to attend all or part of the conference. We are also hoping to arrange a keynote presentation by children and young people from Cyprus.

The conference welcomes paper proposals on any theoretical and methodological topics of interest to child and youth research (including but not limited to: agency and structure; voice; participation; citizenship; children’s identities; children’s rights; space and place; generation/inter-generational relations; consumption; representation; reflexivity; child/youth-led research; ethnography; visual methodologies; and ethics). Though purely theoretical and methodological papers are welcome, the conference also encourages the submission of abstracts which illustrate and critique particular theoretical and methodological approaches through the use of empirical data and case studies.

The conference envisions to provide a platform for childhood and youth scholars to engage in critical discussions of theory and method and to debate productive and innovative directions for future research through interdisciplinary inquiry. The conference organizers welcome proposals in any of the following formats:

1. Individual Papers: Please provide an abstract of no more than 250 words and up to three keywords to help organizers assign accepted papers to thematic groups.
2. Panels:Please provide a panel abstract of no more than 400 words and individual abstracts of no more than 250 words.  Each panel may have up to a maximum of four (4) papers.
3. Poster Presentations:Authors are requested to submit a 250 word abstract clearly indicating their interest in a poster presentation.
4. Post-graduate Student Workshop Sessions:Post-graduate students who are at any stage of their studies and are working on a research project may submit an abstract (of no more than 250 words) of their work clearly indicating their interest to participate in a workshop session.  In workshop sessions the audience provides feedback and constructive criticism to students to help them with their work. Post-graduate students should focus on presenting their work in progress as well as the challenges and areas where help is needed.

Paper presentations should not exceed 20 minutes. The language of the conference will be English. Selected papers may be published in special issues of journals and/or edited books. For more information about the conference and to submit an abstract please go to http://www.icyrnet.net/icyrnet2015

All abstracts should be submitted to s.spyrou@euc.ac.cy by January 31st, 2015.  Authors of accepted abstracts will be notified by February 28, 2015. Registration for the conference opens on December 20, 2014.

For any questions, please contact Spyros Spyrou at s.spyrou@euc.ac.cy