15/09/2026
Growing up in Digital Europe (GUIDE)
A new open-access book that explores child development and wellbeing in the digital age through the lens of international longitudinal research.
Drawing on the innovative GUIDE study (led by Visiting Professor Gary Po***ck, University of Helsinki), the book examines topics such as holistic child wellbeing, child-centered research methods, cross-national data harmonization, data linkage, ethics, and fieldwork practices. It provides evidence-based insights and recommendations for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers working to support children and families in a rapidly changing digital world.
In the chapter Managing Fieldwork across Contexts: Modes and Methods for Studying Child Wellbeing research director Katja Upadyaya et al. (University of Helsinki) discuss about how researchers collect high-quality, comparable data on children’s wellbeing across diverse national contexts. They examine the methodological and logistical foundations of large-scale longitudinal studies, drawing on experiences from major European research infrastructures and the GUIDE project. The authors argue that successful fieldwork requires a balance between centralized coordination and local adaptability, combining common standards with sensitivity to cultural, linguistic, and geographical differences.
The chapter highlights the opportunities and limitations of various data collection modes, including face-to-face, video-mediated, telephone and web-based approaches. Particular emphasis is placed on child-centered methodologies that prioritize children’s own perspectives, age-appropriate instruments, ethical participation, and meaningful engagement throughout the research process.
Link to explore the whole open access eBook is in the comments.
