Creative methods in research, such as visual arts and play, are approaches that offer expressive and non-traditional ways of engaging research participants. When used with children and young people, these methods offer the potential to facilitate more meaningful involvement and enable them to have their voices heard. However, children and young people’s experiences of using creative methods have rarely been reported.

This thesis examines use of creative methods in research involving children and young people with cancer and demonstrates the contribution of seven publications which form the body of this work. Four publications report on a study that included puppets, drawing and workshop methods to explore children and young people’s views of cancer care. This study was an early contributor to the field of creative methods with children with cancer and was one of the first to seek the views of young children (aged four). A fifth publication reports on creative methods used when receiving assent; an essential part of the research procedure with children. The sixth publication details methods of involving children in the James Lind Alliance Children’s Cancer Priority Setting Partnership (PSP). This PSP was among the earliest to successfully hear the views of many children in research prioritisation. The seventh publication highlights the importance of engaging with children who are experts by experience and the limitations of involving healthy children as proxies.

Findings in this thesis support that creative methods are child-friendly, facilitate rapport and generate rich data. Recommendations for future research include researchers actively involving children and young people in selecting appropriate methods, offering choice of methods, and seeking feedback on experience of methods. Getting the methods right is essential for inclusive research and to maximise the opportunities for children and young people’s voices to influence change in health care practice, research design and service provision.