Informed Consent with Children and Young People in Social Research: Is There Scope for Innovation?
Abstract
Over 20 years of research has enhanced our understanding about the methodological and ethical benefits and challenges of involving children and young people in research. Concurrently, the increasing bureaucratisation of research ethics governance within UK universities has reified expectations about the methods used to gain informed consent for research participation. This paper explores how social researchers in the UK are navigating this tension and whether there is any scope for innovation through the use of technologies in how children and young people provide informed consent to take part in research. We conclude there is a need for the co‐creation of research information with children and young people and greater transparency by sharing creative solutions.
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- Authors
- Parsons, S., Sherwood, G., & Abbott, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Southampton (GB)
- University of Portsmouth (GB)
- King's College London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Parsons, Sarah
- Venue
- Children & Society
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2015-03-17
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 132-145
- ISSN
- 0951-0605 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-0860
- OpenAlex
- W2040756619
- Cited by
- 42
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 6.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Children & Society (publishedVersion)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Southampton
- Kings College London
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Children's Rights and Participation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Ethics in Clinical Research
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
- Keywords
- informed consent, children and young people, research ethics, research participation, research ethics governance, digital technologies in research, transparency, social research ethics, British universities
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