Researcher-initiated role play, stimulated recall interview, storycrafting, painting and drawing as research methods to reach children's perspectives in health sciences

AimTo describe the application of selected creative and participatory research methods in nursing science.DesignResearch methodology paper.MethodsResearcher-initiated role play, stimulated recall interviews, the Storycrafting method, painting and drawing. Altogether, 11 children (5-7 years old) and 12 parents participated in the research.ResultsEach small group (n = 3) acted differently during the data collection. Not every child wanted to play, draw or tell stories, but they all expressed their views through some method. Although the same themes emerged from children's narratives, they could not have been verified by just one method.ConclusionsUsing creative and participatory methods and the principles of studies of child perspectives are applicable ways of conducting research in nursing science. Children must be treated as individuals during the research process, and they must have opportunities to use several communication methods to express their views.Implications for the profession and patient careUnderstanding different ways to interact with children and hear children's views will help nurses to encounter children.ImpactIn this article, we present a valid way of conducting research with children. By following our protocol, nursing research from a child perspective can be implemented.Reporting MethodConsolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ).Patient ContributionThe child participants were involved in choosing physical places for data collection and the usage and order of the selected methods. Both the children and the adult participants took part in interpreting the research data.