Psychology I / Research Ethics
Practice question · Multiple choice

Research with children requires a parent's consent and the child's assent. Why insist on both when the parent can legally decide?

Hints
  1. Ask what happens if the parent agrees and the child is visibly distressed and wants to stop.
  2. Consent answers 'who may authorise this'. Assent answers a different question.
Show the answer

C. Because legal authority and willingness are different things

Why

The parent can permit and cannot volunteer someone else's willingness. Assent gives the child a veto they can actually exercise, and its practical force is that visible distress ends the session regardless of the signature on the form.

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