Information for applicants
Working with children
You must satisfy yourself that there is a need to involve children and be able to justify this to the Committee. You should ensure that you have familiarised yourself with the relevant legal position, where it is intended to conduct research with children.
Researchers should be aware that:
- Standard Disclosure is required for researchers conducting non-clinical research with children when a parent/guardian/carer/teacher is present throughout.
- PVG scheme membership is required for unsupervised access to children by researchers for any purpose.
- PVG scheme membership is required for researchers if they provide advice in relation to the child's health or carry out medical examinations/tests even in the presence of a parent/guardian/carer (clinical research).
- Disclosure/PVG scheme membership is employer-specific - separate applications are required for different employers.
- Further details on the requirements for Disclosure or membership of the PVG scheme can be obtained from the HR website. Examples of specific research scenarios can be found in the 'frequently asked questions' (FAQs) section.
The age of consent is an issue which divides the ethics community. For example, the UN Convention defines a child as someone below the age of 18. Disclosure Scotland and the PVG scheme normally require 18 years, but with some choices and responsibilities given at 16. This relates to16 years being the age of legal capacity, according to the Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991. The University Ethics Committee recommends 18 years, but with some discretion at 16, if researchers make a strong and valid case.
Those applicants who intend to work with children in schools must obtain written approval from the Head or other person who is in loco parentis. The method of informing and, where appropriate, obtaining consent from parents to their child’s participation must be clearly explained and agreed with the Head of the School and must follow best practice in this regard.
Where consent is given by parents, it is still important to try and obtain real consent from the child; assuming the child is old enough to understand this principle. For older children, they would normally be expected to give their signed agreement to take part in the same way as adults. Even where children are younger, where the child is capable of understanding, the researcher should explain to the child that what they are doing is entirely voluntary and that they can refuse to take part if they wish.
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