This Technical Note focuses on the methods, tools, and instruments that may be useful for research with children in the second and subsequent phases of data collection in the Young Lives study. Specifically, it addresses methods for investigating the following two lines of enquiry:

a) What are the factors (global, national, sub-national, community and household/family) that act on children’s lives, to either increase or reduce
poverty and its effects?
b) What effects do multidimensional aspects of poverty have on children’s functioning, capabilities and well-being during the course of childhood?

The paper will include examples of qualitative and quantitative measures that could be used both in sub-sample and full-sample data collection. Part of what makes Young Lives unique is the opportunity to combine qualitative and quantitative methods and data. Analysis of this data will give a much deeper and broader picture of global child poverty than can be obtained through either quantitative household surveys or in-depth qualitative work alone. Further, combining and comparing the data obtained at the levels of the community, household and child build a rich context for the study of poor children’s lives. Therefore, questions from the full-sample child questionnaire that link with the sub-sample methods suggested will be shown in square ‘callout’ boxes. Links with the research at the household and community levels will also be highlighted where applicable.

This Note does not set out a definitive schedule for the research, nor does it include all the detail necessary for the implementation of the instruments and methods. Instead, it provides some background to the child full-sample questionnaire, and a starting point for discussions about methods and tools for sub-sample work.