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Child Assent Practices in Research: Improving Ethics, Decision-Making, and Inclusivity

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Title: Child Assent Practices in Research: Improving Ethics, Decision-Making, and Inclusivity
Language: English
Authors: David C. Coker (ORCID 0000-0002-9138-2125), Ketaki Inamdar (ORCID 0000-0003-2773-7718), Daniel F. McCleary (ORCID 0000-0002-1022-4396), Lesley Cottrell (ORCID 0000-0001-9799-9727)
Source: Journal of Educational Research and Practice. 2025 15.
Availability: Walden University, LLC. 100 Washington Avenue South Suite 900, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Tel: 800-925-3368; Fax: 612-338-5092; e-mail: JERAP@waldenu.edu; Web site: http://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/jerap
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 24
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Children, Youth, Informed Consent, Ethics, Research Problems, Research Administration, Educational Research, Research Design, Participation, Personal Autonomy, Empowerment, Doctoral Dissertations, Risk
ISSN: 2167-8693
Abstract: The following article addresses a conundrum: What if child assent in research were a fully informed, standalone process that empowered all children to discuss meaningfully, negotiate, and decide how and what the research experience would look like? Past research and practices suggest that child assent, when children (youths to 17-year-olds who have not been emancipated) agree to participate in research before, during, and after parents' or guardians' consent, is rife with problems that minimize informed participation and prize procedural ethics over true understanding of the processes and autonomous decision-making. Academic articles often lack details, as length requirements and brevity preclude detailed explanations. Using a thematic analysis of dissertations on education in the United States, a key finding was that child assent was largely taken for granted, an approach that systematically excluded children with disabilities. Recommendations to improve the process include prescreening, an individualized child assent protocol, and, if needed in situations with more than minimal risk, frequent interaction with institutional review boards. These practices will move child assent procedures beyond questionable practice and toward empowering children and including all children from different backgrounds and experiences. A checklist provides a systematic way to develop child assent practices in an optimal manner.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1492202
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Child Assent Practices in Research: Improving Ethics, Decision-Making, and Inclusivity
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22David+C%2E+Coker%22">David C. Coker</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9138-2125">0000-0002-9138-2125</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ketaki+Inamdar%22">Ketaki Inamdar</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2773-7718">0000-0003-2773-7718</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Daniel+F%2E+McCleary%22">Daniel F. McCleary</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1022-4396">0000-0002-1022-4396</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lesley+Cottrell%22">Lesley Cottrell</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9799-9727">0000-0001-9799-9727</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Educational+Research+and+Practice%22"><i>Journal of Educational Research and Practice</i></searchLink>. 2025 15.
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  Data: Walden University, LLC. 100 Washington Avenue South Suite 900, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Tel: 800-925-3368; Fax: 612-338-5092; e-mail: JERAP@waldenu.edu; Web site: http://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/jerap
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Youth%22">Youth</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Informed+Consent%22">Informed Consent</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethics%22">Ethics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+Problems%22">Research Problems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+Administration%22">Research Administration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Research%22">Educational Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+Design%22">Research Design</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Participation%22">Participation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Personal+Autonomy%22">Personal Autonomy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Empowerment%22">Empowerment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Doctoral+Dissertations%22">Doctoral Dissertations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Risk%22">Risk</searchLink>
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  Data: The following article addresses a conundrum: What if child assent in research were a fully informed, standalone process that empowered all children to discuss meaningfully, negotiate, and decide how and what the research experience would look like? Past research and practices suggest that child assent, when children (youths to 17-year-olds who have not been emancipated) agree to participate in research before, during, and after parents' or guardians' consent, is rife with problems that minimize informed participation and prize procedural ethics over true understanding of the processes and autonomous decision-making. Academic articles often lack details, as length requirements and brevity preclude detailed explanations. Using a thematic analysis of dissertations on education in the United States, a key finding was that child assent was largely taken for granted, an approach that systematically excluded children with disabilities. Recommendations to improve the process include prescreening, an individualized child assent protocol, and, if needed in situations with more than minimal risk, frequent interaction with institutional review boards. These practices will move child assent procedures beyond questionable practice and toward empowering children and including all children from different backgrounds and experiences. A checklist provides a systematic way to develop child assent practices in an optimal manner.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1492202
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 24
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Youth
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Informed Consent
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ethics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research Problems
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      – SubjectFull: Research Administration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Research
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      – SubjectFull: Research Design
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      – SubjectFull: Participation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Personal Autonomy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Empowerment
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      – SubjectFull: Doctoral Dissertations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Risk
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Child Assent Practices in Research: Improving Ethics, Decision-Making, and Inclusivity
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