Blaisdell, Caralyn2020-02-112020-02-112012-08-31Blaisdell, C. (2012) Inclusive or exclusive participation: Paradigmatic tensions in the mosaic approach and implications for childhood research. Childhoods Today, 6(1).1753-0849https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/10521http://www.childhoodstoday.org/article.php?id=68Caralyn Blaisdell - ORCID 0000-0002-5491-7346 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5491-7346Early childhood research continues to be dominated by psychological research in the positivist paradigm. The Mosaic approach is one work that contests this dominant discourse on early childhood, using task-based, participatory inquiry to share power and involve children as co-constructors of knowledge. However, there are paradigmatic tensions underlying the use of task-based methods. In this paper I examine these tensions in the context of my own experience as an early career researcher. In particular the complex role of the researcher is discussed, and connected to issues of inclusion and exclusion regarding children’s participation in the research process.enChildhoods Today is an open access journal. Those accessing and downloading material from the site, either for personal use or for archiving, may do so free of charge, subject only to full acknowledgement of Childhoods Today as the source. Authors whose work is published in Childhoods Today are also free to use their work as they wish, again subject only to full acknowledgement of its having been published in Childhoods Today.The Mosaic ApproachChild About Child ResearchYoung ChildrenArticle