The key to the gatekeepers: Passive consent and other ethical issues surrounding the rights of children to speak on issues that concern them

• Published in: Child abuse & neglect 2006-09, Vol.30 (9), p.979-989
• Main Authors: Carroll-Lind, Janis, Chapman, James W., Gregory, Janet, Maxwell, Gabrielle
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult Children; Adult Education; Child; Child Abuse; Child abuse & neglect; Children; Children & youth; Children's perspectives; Confidentiality; Consent; Elementary Schools; Ethical issues; Ethics; Female; Gatekeeping; Humans; Male; New Zealand; Parents & parenting; Perspectives; Presumed Consent - ethics; Public Schools; Surveys and Questionnaires; Violence; Violence - psychology
• ISSN: 0145-2134; 1873-7757
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2005.11.013

Describes research conducted in New Zealand public elementary schools that adopted a passive consent procedure that removes adult filters in order to allow children to report their experiences of violence. Data were obtained from a questionnaire completed by 2,077 children, grades 4 to 7, from 28 randomly selected schools. The questions examined the prevalence of various types of violence, its impact on children, & factors that lessen its effect. 'Passive consent,' which assumes consent for children to participate in research on the part of parents who do not return the consent form, is explored as a viable alternative to eliminating all children whose parents fail to return the form. The importance of confidentiality, truthfulness, social sensitivity, & the minimization of harm/deception in research involving children is discussed. The responsible use of passive consent allows researchers to bypass the usual gatekeepers, thereby allowing children to speak for themselves about experiences that harm them. The information provided by children has the potential to contribute significantly to policies that provide safer environments for youngsters. References. J. Lindroth