Inspired by the case studies page of the Economic and Social Research Council, we would like to share examples of ethical issues that EUR researchers addressed or experienced, in order for others to learn from it: What kind of issues may play a role? How can these be addressed?
Do you want to submit your own case? Please use the form on this website.
The case studies will be grouped based on the main issue that occurs in the case. However, several issues may be addressed per case study.
Case studies
Main topics: Involvement human beings (Vulnerable group; Informed consent)
Discipline: Education and child studies
Applicable code(s): Code of Ethics for research in the social and behavioural sciences involving human participants
I am studying reading habits among children between the age of 10 and 12. As part of my research, I plan to visit classrooms to talk with children about reading.
When preparing the visit to the school, I wonder how I can secure parental consent for as many children as possible. For a previous study among children I asked the school to share a letter with the parents which they had to sign to allow their child to participate in the research. Only the children who had a signed letter could join my research.
Unfortunately, only half of the children had a signed consent letter with them. Not only did the results of my study suffer from this low number of participants but a lot of children got upset too that they had to miss out on this school activity.
To avoid this unfortunate situation from repeating itself, I consider using passive consent for the new study; parents are informed about the research in the same way, but have to opt-out when they do not want their child to participate.
However, a consent procedure like this has one big draw-back: without an affirmative action, there is no way of knowing for sure that the parents have actually been informed about my research and whether the information I gave them was clear enough to make an informed decision.
When using opt-out (or passive) consent, it is important to do everything possible to properly inform the participants and/or their legal representatives. Therefore, I decided to use multiple channels to reach them.
The school will sent them an information letter with clear and easy instructions on how to object to their child’s participation in my research. The same information will be posted on the school’s social media accounts and in the school’s newsletter. In addition, I will put up a poster with information about my research on the door of the classroom, and make sure to be present at the end of the school day so that parents can ask questions about the project.
Lastly, I will give parents ample time to read and hear about my project to enable them to ask questions or object to the participation of their child.
Indeed, in the case of minors younger than 12 years of age are involved in your research informed consent is obtained from the parent(s) or legal representative(s). It is good practice to also ask the participant to assent to the research where possible. Please note, in case of minors older than 11 years of age, informed consent is obtained from both the minor (by way of asking to assent to the research) and the parent(s) or legal representative(s).
Consent from one parent is considered sufficient by default, unless the Research Ethics Review Committee decides that a particular research plan requires consent from both parents. Please note, the EUR DPECS Committee recommends to always seek the consent of both parents.
While by default informed consent is active, i.e. through a deliberate act of the participant (“opt-in”), special circumstances may call for passive consent (“opt-out”).
While in this research, there is minimal burden and no risk for participants, the researcher can appeal to ‘special circumstances’, since:
- active consent leads to substantial and demonstrable disadvantages with respect to the quality or aim of the research;
- special care is taken to inform participants and/or their representatives of the study and the possibility to opt out;
- the opt-out procedure is straightforward.
Any opt-out procedure is to be reviewed by the Research Ethics Review Committee.
You do need the informed consent of the school where you conduct the research.
Please note, if you use consent as a legal basis for processing personal data, it needs to be a clear affirmative act establishing a freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of the data subject's agreement. Passive consent is then not sufficient. Please consult your privacy officer on other legal bases you can use.
This review is based on the Code of Ethics for research in the social and behavioural sciences involving human participants, D4 - 6, E5