Conclusion: Learning from the experiences of Young Lives children

This concluding chapter summarises key messages and reflects on what has been learned from running the Young Lives study. There are six key reflections from the Young Lives study. First is the value of talking to children themselves in both qualitative and survey research. Second is the value of multidisciplinary perspectives for public policy research. Third is the centrality of maintaining respectful and effective engagement with research participants. Fourth is the importance of long-term partnerships for effective research and policy engagement. Fifth is the usefulness of international comparison and the balance between this and national specificity. Finally, it is important to value the type of knowledge a study like Young Lives generates. Young Lives is a resource that can be used by future researchers to extend the boundaries of what is known about children, poverty, and human development.