There are currently no validated tools for measuring the outcomes and subjective wellbeing of children involved in private law proceedings. Children and young people have told the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO) that they want their experiences and wellbeing to be recognised and understood.
This project aims to develop robust, child-centred measurement tools, drawing on existing wellbeing frameworks, that can be used in future data collection to track outcomes for children in private law cases.
Co-production is central to our approach, involving two key groups:
- Young People’s Advisory Group: young people with experience of private law proceedings
- Parent/Carer Consultations: online sessions with parents and carers
Overview
| When families go through private law proceedings, such as disputes over child arrangements following separation, the impact on children’s wellbeing can be significant and long-lasting. Yet the family justice system currently lacks any standardised way of understanding how children fare after these proceedings conclude. This project addresses that gap by co-producing reliable, meaningful outcome measures with the people who matter most: children, young people, and their families. Working in partnership with the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory and the Family Justice Young People’s Board, the research team at Cardiff University is developing tools that capture what children themselves say matters to them, creating an evidence base that can inform policy and practice across the family justice system. |
Activities and Methods
The project follows four phases:
- Framework Review and Item Development: A systematic review of existing subjective wellbeing measures, followed by adaptation for the private law context. In consultation with NFJO and young people with experience of private law, we identify which outcomes matter most to children and families.
- Cognitive Testing: Each draft item is tested through ‘thinking aloud’ interviews with children, young people, and parents/carers, ensuring the language and concepts are accessible and meaningful.
- Pilot Testing: The refined measure is piloted with a larger group of participants. We use eye-tracking technology at Cardiff University’s Behavioural Lab to understand how children engage with and navigate the tool.
- Analysis and Reporting: Survey data, eye-tracking metrics, and participant debriefs are analysed to identify items for revision. Findings are compiled into a final report with recommendations for future use of the measure.
Lead Person
| Principal Investigator | Rebecca Jones |
Academics and Researchers
| Co-applicant | Josie Keam |
| Co-applicant | Lorna Stabler |
| Co-applicant | David Westlake |
| Co-applicant | Elizabeth Payne |
Related Information
| Related partners | Family Justice Young People’s Board |
| Funders | Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO) |
| Related publications | N/A |
| Related documents | https://www.nuffieldfjo.org.uk/resource/developing-measures-that-matter-in-the-family-justice-system |