Using a picture book to gain assent in research with young children

ABSTRACT

There has been a shift in perspective from viewing children as adults-in-the-making to individual agents, possessing the right and the competence to meaningfully participate in research. Many researchers are striving to obtain informed assent from young children prior to their participation in research. Methodological concerns have been presented which differ from traditional consent for adults, many related to language and process issues. In light of these, an assent protocol utilising a picture book that included photographs of young children engaged in research activities was developed to help capture children's interest and aid in their understanding of the research project. Children in two separate studies were presented with the book and demonstrated their understanding through engaging in meaningful discussion about the research process, assenting, and dissenting to participate. Important process considerations are discussed, along with the appropriateness of using a picture book to gather informed assent from young children.

KEYWORDS:

• Children's assent
• research method
• early years
• children's participation
• children's rights
• ethics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Angela Pyle is an assistant professor in the Dr Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. Her interests centre on early years education and methods for meaningfully engaging young children in research.

Erica Danniels, M.Ed., is an instructor therapist who teaches children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, helping in the transition to the classroom environment.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council under Grant [430–2014–00926].