Ceilidh Eaton Russell, PhD, CCLS
As child life specialists, we're committed to supporting children and families through a range of difficult life experiences. Research is crucial to ensure that our practices are grounded in evidence and continue to evolve to meet the needs of the diverse populations we serve. If you're considering getting into research but aren't sure where to start, you're not alone.
Research may seem daunting, but it has a lot in common with clinical work!
If you’re interested in research but feeling intimidated or unsure where to begin, these 10 tips can help you to ease in gradually to build your knowledge, engagement, comfort and confidence. Whether you're collaborating with others, immersing yourself in literature, or participating in a study, every step you take will deepen your understanding of the research process and contribute to advancing child life practice. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful impact for children and families facing adversity as we continue to build a strong foundation of evidence-based practice.
Immerse Yourself in Child-Life-Related Research Literature
Becoming familiar with existing research is essential to understand historic and current trends, gaps in the field, and areas that require further exploration. Start by reading articles related to child life that have been published in reputable journals. This article in the Child Life Bulletin includes tips for searching and reviewing the literature.
Join or Start a Journal Club
Journal clubs are a great way to immerse ourselves in current research by critically thinking and talking about articles with peers. If there isn’t a Journal Club at your institution, start one yourself! Online groups like the Pediatric Chaplains Network offer a virtual option to share articles and engage in discussions with other child-focused professionals.
Set Journal Alerts for the Latest Research
Stay up-to-date with by setting up alerts for specific journals or keywords related to your interests. Many academic journals allow you to subscribe to email notifications that will send you the latest publications directly to your inbox.
Check Out "Research Methods for Child Life Specialists"
Created by Child Life Specialists and researchers, "Research Methods for Child Life Specialists" is a great resource with a comprehensive, practical introduction to research, specifically tailored and applied to child life practice. Reach out to the authors, research fellows, or other experienced CCLSs for support to put these methods into practice!
Attend Research-Related Presentations
Participation at local, national, and even virtual conferences offer great opportunities to learn about the latest research and to network with folks with shared interests. The annual ACLP Conference and regional child life conferences include research presentations where you can learn, connect, and be inspired with child life colleagues.
Watch ACLP Webinars about Child Life Research
ACLP webinars provide high-quality content exploring a range of research methods, findings, and practical applications for the field of child life. You can learn about new evidence-based practices and gain a deeper understanding of how research methods generate knowledge that guides the work we do with children and families.
Investigate Research, Evidence-Based Practice, and Quality Improvement Councils at Your Institution
Find out about research, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement councils or committees at your hospital or agency. These groups welcome input from professionals across disciplines so joining or even attending a meeting are great ways to share your perspective and learn more about processes and practices.
Collaborate with Colleagues from Other Disciplines
Reach out to professionals from other disciplines, like nursing, social work, psychology, or physicians who are working on small or large research projects at your hospital or institution. Interdisciplinary collaboration allows you to learn from others while bringing your own unique perspective as a child life specialist.
Participate in a Research Study
Enrolling as a participant can offer unique insights into the research process. The perspective you gain through your own first-hand experience as a participant will inform the way you think about future research that you conduct and read about.
Connect with Academics Doing Child Life Research
Reaching out to academics with shared interests can open up a world of opportunities. Whether you connect with folks who are leading research projects at a local agency or institution, or professors you’ve studied with before, these relationships build your network and may offer mentorship or guidance as you delve into research.
The research fellows are here to help support your research endeavors! You can contact us at membership@childlife.org