The Young Writers Competition is part of a research project

at Keele University and is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

​

The research is exploring how young people view and make sense of social media. The insights provided by the submitted stories can help improve things like digital literacy in schools and inform how the government makes decisions about online spaces.

​

Entrants can choose whether or not their story is included in the research project. If the entrant agrees to their story being used in the research, it will be used anonymously. Personal details will remain private, and entrants can change their mind within 21 days.

​

Some of the ideas or themes from the stories submitted may be used in the research - but only if permission is granted by both the child entering and their parent/guardian. If a story is used in the research, it will be completely anonymised. That means  names and any personal details will not appear anywhere in the research. Personal data will always be kept confidential, and both the competition and the research follow strict data protection rules under GDPR. The project has also been reviewed and approved by the Keele University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Ethics Committee.

​​

If you or your child have any questions about the research or the competition, please use the Contact Us page on the website. 

​

What are the benefits of taking part? ​

​

Children who agree to share their stories for this research will have the opportunity to express their unique perspectives on social media. This involvement ensures that their voices are heard and valued and helps contribute to a deeper understanding of how young people interpret and represent social media. Incorporating children's viewpoints helps shape research that genuinely reflects their experiences and can help inform educational practices, policy development, and the creation of digital environments that better support children's needs.​​​

​

Are there any risks to taking part? 

​

There are no foreseeable risks to your child taking part in the research. The competition and research project ​follows strict GDPR protocols and ethical guidelines. 

​​​

How will information about my child be used? 

​

​If your child chooses to share their story for the research project, it will be used solely for research purposes. All stories will be anonymised - this means your child's name and any identifying details will be removed. No personal information will be shared, and nothing in the research will identify your child. The focus is on understanding how young people view and represent social media and ensuring their voices are heard, while protecting their privacy.​

​

Who will access to information about my child? 

​​

Your child’s anonymity and confidentiality will be maintained at all times. Only the research organiser (Carina Williams) will have access to any personal data. All stories will be anonymised before being used for research purposes. Personal details will only be used for the purpose of confirming a story submission has been received and for notifying winners. Personal data will be deleted after the competition has ended and within a maximum of 12 months from the competition end date. 

 

The competition will be judged anonymously. An independent judge will review each story without access to any personal or identifying information about the participants. This ensures that all entries are evaluated solely on their content, maintaining fairness and impartiality throughout the judging process.

 

Anonymised data (the short stories) will be kept on the researcher’s university drive for 5 years after which it will be securely destroyed. The analysed data will be deposited in a secure, university-approved open access repository, which ensures other researchers can utilise the anonymised data. Data guidelines will be strictly adhered to throughout the study in accordance with Keele University’s data retention policy: https://www.keele.ac.uk/recordsmanagement/recordsretentionschedule/ 

 

Please note, the researcher must work within the confines of current legislation regarding matters of privacy, confidentiality, data protection and human rights. Therefore, offers of confidentiality may sometimes be overridden by law. For example, in circumstances where the researcher is concerned about actual or potential harm to a participant or any other individual. In this event, the researcher must pass this information to the relevant authorities. 

 

You can find out more about how participant information is used at https://www.keele.ac.uk/privacynotices/privacynotice-researchparticipants/ or by contacting the University’s Data Protection Officer at dpo@keele.ac.uk. 

 

Is participation in the research required to enter the competition? 

​

No, participation in the research aspect of the competition is entirely voluntary. Children can enter the competition without agreeing to have their stories included in the research. Choosing not to participate in the research will not affect their eligibility or chances of winning in any way. Before submitting their story, entrants will be asked whether they consent to its inclusion in the research project. Entrants have the right to change their decision within 21 days after submission. To do so, they can notify the competition organiser via the contact form on the website.

​

​​What if there's a problem? 

​

If you have a concern about any aspect of the study, you may wish to speak to the researcher who will endeavour to answer any questions you may have: Carina Williams c.l.williams1@keele.ac.uk. Alternatively, if you do not wish to contact the researcher, you may contact the PhD supervisor Dr John Howlett: j.howlett@keele.ac.uk.  

 

If you remain unhappy about the research and/or wish to raise a complaint about any aspect of the way that you have been approached or treated during the course of the study, please write to the Chair of the Ethics Committee, at the following address: 

 

Chair of the Ethics Committee 

University's Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Ethics Committee

Keele University, Keele  

ST5 5BG 

Or Email: humss.ethics@keele.ac.uk   

​

​

​​