Re: Participant Assent

["Douglas Flor" <DFLOR@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

= How old should a child be to give assent to participate in a research 
= project?  At what age can children understand the concept of giving their
= permission for information about them to be shared with researchers?
= Examples of assent formats used in research projects focused on 
= child maltreatment investigation would be appreciated.  Thanks in 
= advance for any responses to these questions.

Children need to always understand that they can refuse to answer any 
given question, stop, or not participate at all (even though a parent 
may say yes for them).  An ethical researcher should always respect 
the wishes of the CHILD.

A parent may give you permission to work with a child, but the issue 
of refusal, stopping, or not wanting to answer a question is more 
important than assenting to participate (it also may take more time 
and be more difficult for some children to "understand" as children 
"always" do what adults tell them to do).
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Which is more important?  
Impressing people with your rhetoric, 
or your character and integrity?
                                       Think about it.
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Douglas L. Flor
Project Coordinator
Department of Child and Family Development
The University of Georgia
Dawson Hall
Athens, GA  30602               (706) 542-1297
                       or
Project Coordinator
Adolescent Development Research Program
Institute for Behavioral Research
The University of Georgia
132 Barrow Hall
Athens, GA 30602                (706) 542-6099
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