When paradigm changes challenge applied research: the case of children, media and public governance. A personal journey

Abstract

Throughout my career as an academic and researcher in the area of children and technologies I have witnessed in this ever-evolving landscape the use of many scientific perspectives in the quest to better understand the cultural creative and educational implications of these technologies in the everyday lives of our children. After briefly describing some of these models I will address the challenges I encountered in trying to match my paradigmical approach with the expectations of public funding agencies and moreover with the expectancies of the decision makers.

Keywords

• policy makers
• public governance
• funding agencies
• media effect paradigm
• evidence based approach
• active audience
• reception studies
• ethnographic turn
• sense-making
• cultural map
• ecological validity