Respect is one of the three core principles of ERIC (along with benefit and justice). For our purposes with ERIC, respect means more than tolerance. It implies valuing children and the context of their lives, and recognition of their dignity. Obtaining informed consent for research involvement is an important means of demonstrating this respect for children’s dignity.
Respect in research tends to be a principle with which everyone agrees, but which is rarely explicitly articulated in relation to undertaking research involving children. With ERIC, it is assumed that to respect a child in research, one must know:
– who the child is;
– what cultural context they are living in;
– how culture shapes their experiences, capabilities and
perspectives.
Respect is closely linked with rights. For instance, the UNCRC anticipates three dimensions of respect: participation rights, protection rights and provision rights.
Related Terms:
Benefit,
Justice,
UNCRC