CROP’s research is evidence based and it relies both on quantitative and qualitative methodologies providing valuable insight into the experience and views of families. CROP uses a variety of approaches when conducting qualitative research. These include targeted focus group discussions and individual in-depth interviews, which are often effective methods due to the subjective nature of information inherent to the issue of child sexual exploitation.

CROP actively conducts primary research studies, as well as secondary analyses and triangulation of existing data. Operations research is part of CROP’s research programme offering opportunities for parents to contribute to the development of CROP’s programme of services.

This is achieved by creating various platforms where parents can evaluate and engage with the work of CROP ensuring efficiency, effectiveness and quality of services.

CROP staff along with volunteers undertake all stages of the research process, from the initial idea, methodology design and data collection through to dissemination of findings. Parents’ participation is central to the whole research programme.

CROP publishes articles and reports and runs events to help share the findings of its work. CROP continually tests and re-tests the findings against the experiences of parents as well as those working with children and young people.

CROP has produced a number of articles and reports relevant to its work and these can be found in the Publications section.