The Competence and Freedom of Children to Make Choices Regarding Participation in Research: A Statement

This statement holds that children should participate in research only under conditions of adequately informed consent, that parents must be fully informed about research procedures and purposes, but that parental consent is a sufficient condition only for infants or children without adequate capacity for informed choice.

Abstract

The child is considered to be a person with the right of self‐determination. This statement holds that children should participate in research only under conditions of adequately informed consent, that parents must be fully informed about research procedures and purposes, but that parental consent is a sufficient condition only for infants or children without adequate capacity for informed choice. Children should receive complete explanations consonant with their level of understanding; guidelines are suggested for different age groups. Incomplete disclosure may be warranted if followed by adequate debriefing; however, deception is thought never to be justified. Special problems of invasion of privacy arising in naturalistic field studies are discussed. The intrinsic value of science is proposed both as justification and as motivation for children's participation as research subjects.