Misaligned expectations for youth-led research in direct policy change: a systematic review

Despite the promise of youth-led research initiatives for enacting transformative change, globally there are vast differences in how youth-led research is enacted by those in leadership. This systematic review asks three questions: (1) To what extent have youth-led research initiatives resulted in direct policy changes?, (2) What mechanisms are employed in youth-led research projects?, and (3) To what extent are youth who are leading research motivated to affect policy in their contexts? The authors followed PRISMA guidelines to systematically review empirical studies of ‘youth led research’ including in gray literature. While some might assume that direct policy impact – an official change in written policy – is a more ‘valid’ form of youth-led advocacy work, the results of the review demonstrated that youth-led research should support youth to define success on their own terms. This review identifies that a major weakness in the field of youth-led research is the failure of adult mentors to frame expectations alongside youth; instead, too often scholars revert to reporting an intangible respect for youth voice as their sole defining outcome. The findings illustrate the need for adult co-researchers to support youth as change agents capable of defining their own metrics of success, navigating nuanced policy contexts, and maintaining their voice in the research process.