Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
Published on: June 6, 2020
Ethical and epistemological insights: a case study of participatory action research with young people
Cathy Chabot1, Jean A Shoveller, Grace Spencer
1Youth Sexual Health Team, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. cathy.chabot@ubc.ca
Abstract:
Debates over how to determine age of consent for youth to participate in research feature prominently in the practice of researchers, research ethics boards (REBs), and community decision makers working with youth. In particular, tensions can arise over how the ethical principles of beneficence, autonomy, and justice are interpreted and applied in research involving young people. We discuss our experiences obtaining ethical approval to conduct a participatory action research project involving youth and the differences of opinion we encountered regarding underage youth's capability to make informed consent. We suggest that researchers, REBs, and community decision makers all share a responsibility to conduct proactive outreach to youth participants, so that they are adequately informed of their rights related to research.
Related Concept Videos
Ethics in Research
Case Studies
Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition
Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
Naturalistic Observations
Empathy
