I would like to investigate the extent to which both young people and adults feel that young people also can and should have a say in the world. I am a young person and have strong views about the involvement of young people in decisions that affect their lives. I think that young people should be given the rights that are given to adults. It is my belief that young people can be treated as equal citizens in society and I wish to explore through this research project the perceptions and views of some young people and some adults about this subject. The participation of young people in decision-making is becoming more usual in different areas of life such as schools and the development of services. It will be interesting to test what the views of some groups are and from this, make recommendations for change in organizations or in society at national level. The comparison of views of young people and adults in England as described will also be informative.

Aim
• To investigate the views of young people
(11-14) & adults in England, regarding the extent to which they should influence decisions that affect their lives.
• To find out the views of adults in England.
The topic areas include voting, public decision making (for e.g. services) and school.

The research ensured that all participants gave informed consent. Confidentiality & anonymity was guaranteed to guard against any sensitivity in young people about adults knowing their individual views. Adult participants were also guaranteed confidentiality and anonymity. The research was sensitive to cultural differences and took account of this when sharing the data.

I designed a questionnaire about rights and gave this to a mixed group of adults and a group of students from my school aged between 11 and
18. The questionnaire explored attitudes of the two groups about young people’s rights.
These were then analyzed and the results used to determine whether young people should be provided the same rights as adults and if yes on what aspects.

This research was conducted in one of the schools in Milton Keynes where many young people answered the questionnaire, some questionnaires were also filled up by some of the teachers. Some of the other data provided by adults was from my father’s and my neighbour’s office colleagues.

The extent to which children's ideas and opinions are considered at school
100
50
11 to 14
18+
0 a lot
11 to 14 26.82
18+ 26.66
a little
48.78
46.66
hardly at
24.39
26.66
never
0
0
In this question majority of people think that children’s ideas and opinions are considered only a little at school, but it is not like they are never considered, rarely they are considered.

The extent to which children's ideas and opinions are considered by society
100
50
11 to 14
18+
0
11 to 14
18+ a lot
5.12
6.66
a little
41.02
60 hardly at
33.33
26.66
never
20.51
6.66
In this question majority of people think that children’s ideas and opinions are considered only a little by the society, but it is not like they are never considered, rarely they are considered.

Freedom At School
11 to 14
18+
11 to 14
18+
100
80
60
40
20
0 too much about right not enough no way
2.56
13.33
38.46
73.33
56.41
13.33
2.56
0
In this question most of the young people think that they are not provided enough rights at school whereas majority of adults think that they are provided enough rights at school.

Schools Being Just Like Universities From The Point
Of View Of Freedom
100
11 to 14
18+
50
0
Strongly
Agree
11 to 14 10.52
18+ 0
Agree
13.15
0
Slightly
Agree
Slightly
Disagree
Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
57.89
0
15.78
28.57
2.63
71.42
0
0
In this question majority of young people slightly agree to the concept of schools being just like universities from the point of view of freedom, and majority of adults disagree to this concept.

Deciding The School Uniform
11 to 14
18+
100
50
11 to 14
18+
0
We shouldn't get to We should get to
14.63
21.42
46.34
7.14
Dress code of formal and decent
39.02
78.57
In this question majority of young people think that they should get to decide their school uniform whereas majority of adults think that there should be a dress code of formal and decent wear.

Do Children Feel Bad If They Are Called As A Child
100
20
0
11 to 14
18+
80
60
40 yes
10
23.07
slightly
12.5
0 sometimes not really
42.5
38.46
25
38.46
no
10
0
11 to 14
18+
In this question majority of young people feel bad sometimes if they are called as a child whereas majority of adults feel that young children sometimes or not really feel bad if they are called as a child.

Do Children Feel Offended If They Are Denied The Rights
Provided To Adults
100
80
60
40
20
0
11 to 14
18+ yes
12.5
31.25
slightly sometimes not really
12.5
12.5
30
18.5
32.5
25 no
12.5
12.5
11 to 14
18+
In this question most of the young people not really feel offended if they are called as a child whereas most of the adults think that children do feel offended if they are called as a child.

Are Children As Matured As An Adult?
100
80
60
40
20
0 yes
11 to 14 12.19
18+ 7.69
slightly sometimes not really
29.26
0
34.14
7.69
14.63
23.07
no
9.75
61.53
11 to 14
18+
In this question majority of young people feel that they are sometimes as matured as adults whereas adults feel that young people are not as matured as an adult.

Right Age For Voting
100
80
60
40
20
0
13
11 to 14 10
18+ 0
14
7.5
0
15
32.5
0
16
25
26.66
17
5
0
18 or above
20
73.33
11 to 14
18+
In this question majority of young people feel that 15yrs is the right age for voting whereas majority of adults feel that 18yrs or above is the right age for voting.

Age For Driving
100
80
60
40
20
0
11 to 14
18+
13
5
0
14
0
0
15
12.5
0
16
30
6.66
17
37.5
6.66
18 or above
15
86.66
11 to 14
18+
In this question most of young people feel that 17yrs is the right age for driving whereas most of the adults feel that 18yrs or above is the right age for voting.

Age For Marriage
100
80
60
40
20
0
13
11 to 14 2.43
18+ 0
14
2.43
0
15
9.75
0
16 17
18 or above
4.87
26.82
53.65
0 0 100
11 to 14
18+
In this question majority of young people feel that the right age for marriage should be 18yrs or above whereas all of the adults also feel that the right age for marriage should be 18yrs or above.

Rights In England Are
11 to 14
18+
100
80
60
40
20
0
Too many About Right Not Enough
7.31
10
73.17
80
19.57
10
11 to 14
18+
Majority of the young people as well as majority of adults feel that the rights in England are about right.

The conclusion I can draw from this research is that young people’s ideas and opinions should be considered in the society and schools, but that these should not be equal to adults because young people are not should not yet as mature as an adult. Here are some suggestions that I have drawn from my findings
• there should be a dress code of formal and decent wear in schools rather than either one particular uniform or complete freedom to wear what they want, this will let them express their identities well and also be decently dressed.
• Children should not be looked down on or be underestimated as even they can have good ideas and can know a lot.
• The age for voting should be set at 16yrs as, even though they are not completely as mature as an adult, they know about politics and social issues going on in society.
• The age for driving should be 18yrs old because driving is a risky thing and young people may race ridiculously and end up in an accident.
• Age for marriage should also be 18 yrs as children.