Norm-critical Approaches, a Way Forward to Increase Participation for Marginalized Children and Young People in Health Research & Design: A Scoping Review

Engaging individuals with lived experience in research and design without incorporating critical perspectives on norms in knowledge production may result in tokenism and disempowerment. This scoping review pulls together method contributions from 38 recent health-related studies that involved children or young people in marginalized or vulnerable positions, to assist researchers and designers in methodological decisions and planning. We explore participation levels and norm-critical aspects of the studies and map their rationales for participation, theoretical frameworks, output types, and participatory tools. The analytical framework was based on youth participation models and literature in norm-critical innovation and critical participatory and health-related research. Patterns and variations in participation levels and norm-critical aspects are discussed in relation to the studies’ methodological differences and the ages of participants involved. We illustrate where high levels of both participation and norm-critical aspects were found and what signified these studies.