Obtaining consent to participate in research: The issues involved in including people with a range of learning and communication disabilities

Citation

Cameron L & Murphy J (2007) Obtaining consent to participate in research: The issues involved in including people with a range of learning and communication disabilities. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 35 (2), pp. 113-120. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3156.2006.00404.x

Abstract
Research in the field of learning disability presents particular ethical challenges when obtaining consent from participants. This is further exacerbated when the nature of the research requires participation at all ability levels and involves people with communication impairments. The process of obtaining consent in a research study with 48 participants at four levels of comprehension ability is discussed in this paper. The specific issues of recruitment, seeking consent, ongoing consent and feedback are detailed as are the adaptations made in this project to research methodology and the accessible methods of communication employed. Implications for researchers and future directions for further studies are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved) (from the journal abstract)

Keywords
Communication impairment; comprehension level; consent; learning disabilities; research

Journal
British Journal of Learning Disabilities: Volume 35, Issue 2