Putting in Place Appropriate Safeguards for Research Involving Children

This guidance paper outlines some of the safeguarding considerations for research involving children. It is Guidance Paper 3 in the series The Ethics of Research Involving Children: Common Questions, Potential Strategies and Useful Guidance.

Ethical principles aim to ensure that all aspects of research in so far as possible respect and protect participants from potential harm. Whilst it can be argued that everyone is vulnerable and at risk of potential harm at some point (after all, vulnerability is part of the human condition ), children are seen to be more vulnerable than adults. This can be attributed to their physicality (they are naturally smaller and weaker), their more limited social development (they have not yet mastered the social tools necessary to protect themselves from harm), and established power dynamics (adults have power over children which can undermine, disadvantage and even exploit children). As such, children require special protection in law, policy, procedures and, indeed, when it comes to designing and conducting research.

Additional safeguards may need to be put in place to safeguard children who are involved in research of a particularly sensitive nature, or with children who are regarded as especially vulnerable due to their circumstances, characteristics and experiences. This includes those who have suffered abuse, those who have been detained, those who have experienced family separation or economic difficulties, and those affected by ill-health, special educational needs or disability.