Question

A researcher asks an IRB to waive the requirement for parental permission for a study conducted in schools because the nature of the research requires participation of all the children present in classrooms on the day the research will take place. Assuming that the basic research design could be approved by the IRB and the school, which of the following requirements must be met before an IRB could waive parental permission?

Parents must be notified that the study is taking place.


An independent consultant must approve the waiver.


The students must be offered an optional classroom activity.


The research must pose no more than minimal risk.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: "Parents must be notified that the study is taking place."

According to the American Association of Public opinion Research (AAPOR), in order to perform the survey, a researcher must get the approval of the parents of the children who are going to surveyed. However, even if a researcher gets the permission from the parents, federal regulations require that children express their agreement to participate in the survey. Factors like age, maturity, and psychological state need to be taken into account at the moment of asking for their consent to participate.