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
Our study is called COMPASS, which stands for Co-producing Outcome Measures for Private Law Arrangements: Survey Study. A compass helps people find the right direction, and in this study, young people and parents will help guide our work. Their ideas and experiences will help us decide what questions to ask and what is important to measure, so the study reflects what really matters to families.
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.
Updates
July Update
We have met with our Young Person’s Advisory Group and the Family Justice Young People’s Board. During these sessions, we spoke with young people about what contributes to a good life for all young people and explored what may be different for those whose parents have been involved in family law proceedings.
Young people told us that:
- Having a good life means feeling safe, supported, and having positive relationships, predictable routines, and opportunities to grow, learn and pursue interests.
- Young people involved in private family court proceedings may face additional challenges, including living between two homes, adapting to changing family relationships, and managing practical and emotional complexities.
- It is important that young people have autonomy, are listened to, and are given choices and control where possible, particularly during times of family change.
- Surveys and research should use clear, accessible language, explain why information is being collected, and recognise that young people may not always be feeling positive.
- Young people value adults who listen without making assumptions, understand the complexity of their experiences, and create space for them to share their views safely and honestly.
It was incredibly helpful to hear their honest and thoughtful perspectives, and we look forward to meeting with them again in the months ahead.
Next, we will be testing out a draft of the measure with young people and their carers. We will be using eye-tracking with some participants to help us understand where people look when answering our questions. This will mean that we can see which parts of questions might take longer to understand or be missed. We hope this will help us make our questions better!
Resources
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 |
| Research Assistant | Emily Baker |
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 |