Assessing and Enhancing the Research Consent Capacity of Children and Youth

Abstract

This study examined the capacity of 291 4th, 7th, and 10th graders, as well as college students, to understand their rights in research and the extent to which this capacity can be enhanced following exposure to The Research Participants' Bill of Rights. Comprehension of the research procedures, risks and benefits, voluntary nature of participation, and confidentiality protections improved in all grades following exposure to the Bill of Rights. Fourth graders performed poorer than older respondents when asked to match rights definitions, identify true and false statements about specific research rights, and label and recognize rights violations in hypothetical research vignettes. Data suggest that 7th graders, when compared to older participants, are still struggling to understand their veto power over adult permission, their right to be protected from harm, and to be informed about research procedures and results. Overall, 10th graders' responses did not differ from adults'. Implications of the findings for informed consent procedures are discussed.