Assent

Core Principles and Practices of Assent

Although there are differences of interpretation, there are some common core principles and practices of assent. Primarily, assent is understood to be an agreement to take part in a specific activity within a research project, such as an interview, group discussion, creative activities, being observed (e.g., in a classroom), or completing a questionnaire or test. The agreement to participate should be voluntary and explicit; nonrefusal or passive involvement are not typically accepted as indicators that a child has provided assent to take part in an activity. Participation should, therefore, be an active choice, which means that a child has to decide whether to participate or not. Choosing not to participate is usually called dissent, and children should be given clear opportunities to assent or dissent to their own research participation.

Researchers also need to respect the rights of children to be given the opportunity to assent or dissent and to respect their decision once made. To enable children to make a clear choice about research participation, they would usually be provided with information about specific project activities in an accessible way. This could be through the use of simplified text, pictures, photographs, or videos that may be accompanied by verbal explanations. This simplification of information is one of the features that distinguishes assent from informed consent.

Historical and Conceptual Development

The concept of assent emerged from developments in understanding children’s status and agency as competent individuals, capable of making decisions and contributing their views. This sociology of childhood understands children as having unique and valuable perspectives on the world, separate and distinct from adults. This perspective has been both strengthened by and reflected in a rights-based approach to children’s participation, stimulated primarily by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1989. The convention is aimed at supporting children’s human rights internationally and has been ratified by 195 members of the United Nations, with the United States the only member state that had not ratified it as of 2016.

Among other things, the UNCRC stipulated the right of children to be heard in all matters affecting them, with due weight given to those views according to the age and maturity of the child (Article 12). According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, this means that “when adults are making decisions that affect children, children have the right to say what they think should happen and have their opinions taken into account” (United Nations Children’s Fund, n.p.). Article 12 of the UNCRC recognizes that children’s ability to make decisions develops with age and so the views of teenagers, for example, would be given more weight than those of a very young child. Article 13 of the UNCRC accords children the right of freedom of expression, which means that (within the law) they can receive and share information in any way they choose, including talking, drawing, and writing. The principles of Articles 12 and 13 are relevant to assent because they recognize that children, depending on their age and maturity, may not be able to provide fully informed consent to take part in research. Children can, however, provide their assent or dissent based on specific information relating to specific activities, and their choice may be communicated in different ways.

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