The pathways to assent in early childhood research: what do parents of young children want?
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Assent refers to the willingness to participate in a specific activity, such as research, by someone who cannot legally provide consent. In early childhood development (ECD) research, seeking assent is often flexible and not a legal requirement. This study used a mixed methods approach to explore parents’ perspectives on assent procedures. A relational communication pathways model is presented for obtaining authentic assent from children aged 0-8, emphasizing the triadic relationship between parent, researcher, and child. A bilingual (Arabic and English) online survey was completed by 490 parents (87% mothers, 13% fathers) in the United Arab Emirates. Findings showed that 86% of respondents preferred researchers to seek assent from their child, and 67% would respect their child’s dissent. However, 50% would try to convince their child to continue if the research had already begun. Participants emphasized the importance of ongoing communication and relationship-building efforts for successful engagement with young children.
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4411004908