Ethics in Research with Children Symposium

Wednesday 30 April 2008Comment on this articlePermlink

Ethics in Research with Children

Child Wellbeing Institute and Clinical and Health Psychology Research Centre, Roehampton University, London

Date: Tuesday 24 June 2008
Location: Portrait Room, Froebel College, Roehampton University
Start time: 15.30
End time: 20.00

It is only relatively recently that codes of research ethics have been developed that focus specifically on children.

Thus, to a large extent, the history of the development of such regulation is the same as that for adults.

Ethical regulation has developed mainly in the wake of shocks arising from the revelation of appalling things done to people in the name of research.

Children have been among the victims.

However, despite all ethical guidelines research with children remains a balancing act between the benefit of the expected research results to the wider community and the risk posed to the child by taking part in research.

A related problem concerns consent: consent is viewed as being there in order to respect the autonomy of the person consenting; clearly, this does not apply to proxy consent as is the case for parents consenting for their child.

So is research with children justifiable at all?

Many would argue that – despite all these problems – research with children is necessary.

Children are not adults. To extend research findings from adults to children is scientifically unsound and, therefore, in itself ethically questionable.

If we are to further our knowledge of child development, learn more about factors that impact negatively on children’s welfare and are to develop better interventions to help children at all stages during their development to fulfil their potential then research with children is indispensable.

This symposium brings together perspectives from Philosophy, Bioethics, Psychology and Clinical Ethics.

Four internationally renowned experts will present their arguments, pro and con research with children, from their background in research.

The plenary talks will be complemented by poster presentations from academics experienced in research with children.

Programme

3.30 Arrival and coffee

4.00-4.15 Welcome from the conveners and the Dean of the School of Human and Life Sciences

4.15-4.45 “Research ethics and children: an overview”
Professor Mike McNamee, Centre for Philosophy, Humanities and Law in Health Care, School of Health Science, Swansea University

4.45-5.15 “To do or not to do research with children – is this the question?”
Professor Jürgen Margraf, Department of Psychology, University of Basel

5.15-5.30 Discussion

5.30-6.00 “Do children have a moral duty to take part in ethical research?”
Dr Vic Larcher, Consultant in General Paediatrics and Clinical Ethics Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust London, Honorary Senior Lecturer in Child Health, Institute of Child Health London

6.00-6.30 “Research with children – ethics in daily routine”
Professor Silvia Schneider, Professor of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Basel and Honorary Professor, Clinical and Health Psychology Research Centre, Roehampton University

6.30-6.45 Discussant
Professor Claus Vögele, Clinical and Health Psychology Research Centre, Roehampton University

6.45-7.00 Plenary discussion

7.00-8.00 Posters and reception

Number of attendants: max. 150, free of charge.

Contact details

Tel: 020 8392 3311
Email:

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