IRB Home

Summary: What to Do

Informed Consent

Frequently Asked Questions

Training and Certification

Is My Project Exempt?

Checklist

Submit Online

Meeting Dates

Contact the IRB

Children as Research Participants

This page may be used to augment the Informed Consent page. Please read the Informed Consent page in its entirety before reading the following section.

Though they cannot legally provide informed consent, children (those under 18) should be given an explanation -- at a level appropriate to the child's age, maturity, experience, and condition -- of the procedures to be used, their meaning to the child in terms of discomfort and inconvenience, and the purpose of the research.

Children should be asked if they wish to participate in the research or not. A child must say “yes.” A child’s failure to say “no” does not constitute assent. It must also be made clear to the child that no one will be upset with them if they decline to participate.

In the proposal, the investigator should indicate:

1) how assent will be obtained (what the investigator will say to the child and whether or not the child's parent(s) or guardian(s) will be present);

2) how assent will be documented. The child may either sign a very brief assent form or verbally indicate a willingness to participate.

Remember, even if the child ASSENTS, his or her legal guardian(s) must still CONSENT in order for the child to participate.

Back to Consent Page