Mishna, F., Antle, B. J., & Regehr, C. (2004). Tapping the perspectives of children: Emerging ethical issues in qualitative research. Qualitative Social Work, 3(4). pp. 449-468.

Abstract: The unique ethical issues related to conducting research with children are insufficiently distinguished from issues in working with vulnerable groups, despite a shift to recognizing children as active in the research process. Qualitative researchers are challenged to consider complex ethical issues related to children and are obligated to protect their rights, freedoms, safety, and dignity. While some issues are similar to those in any research context, the nature of the researcher-participant relationship, and the unstructured nature of qualitative research methods, add a dimension of risk. This article examines ethical issues in qualitative research with children: (1) consent and assent; (2) the obligation to protect children from harm while respecting children’s rights; and, (3) the challenges of ensuring that children have fair access to research initiatives and the benefits that ensue. (The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in Qualitative Social Work, 3/4, 12/2004 by SAGE Publications, Ltd., All rights reserved. © Sage Publications Ltd.)

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