Adolescent assent in research: a relational ethics approach

Abstract

Researchers often neglect adolescents’ willingness to participate in research. The granting of permission by parents is sometimes not in accordance with the unwillingness of adolescents. Relational ethics is the right approach to overcome inconsistencies between legal and ethical agreements in granting parental permission and adolescent’s assent. This is because relational ethics is based on building relationships among many parties. The focus of this case study is to improve understanding of the assent of adolescents through intensive study of research conflict, reinforced using existing research and to understand how relational ethics can be used as an approach in decision-making, especially in conflicts between parental permission and assent from adolescents.