Question

A therapist at a free university clinic treats elementary school children with behavior problems who are referred by a social service agency. She is also a doctoral candidate who proposes using data she has and will collect about the children for a case-based research project. Which of the following statements about parental permission is correct?

The superintendent of the school system can give permission for children to be in the study; therefore, the therapist doesn't have to ask the parents for permission.


The therapist creates her clients' records; therefore, she does not need parents' permission to use the information for research purposes.


If it is the best interests of the community that the children participate in the study, parental permission is optional.


The parents of the children might feel pressure to give permission to the therapist to use their children's data so that she will continue to provide services to their children.

Answer 1

The following statement about parental permission is correct : Parents of the children might feel pressure to give permission to the therapist to use their children's data so that she will continue to provide services to their children.

Taking part in the  research is voluntary, but parents might feel  pressured to accept and  waive the right to legal redress for  fear the therapist will not continue to see their children.