Children’s research and ethical review executive summary

Abstract

A substantial increase in research into the lives of children has been experienced in Ireland over the last few years. This increase is not only in the amount of research undertaken but also in the multi-disciplinary range of such research. Compared to requirements in research with adult research participants, research with children faces additional ethical challenges. These challenges are related especially to children’s decision-making capacity, their vulnerability and the particular role of parents or guardians in the research process. The strong demand for protecting children from harm needs to be balanced with the equally urgent need for well-founded research findings that can help improve services for children.

Commissioned by The Office for the Minister of Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA)