What is informed consent and why is parental consent important for minors?

• A. Informed consent is participants' voluntary agreement after being informed about procedures, risks, and rights; for minors, parental consent is required with assent from the child when appropriate.
• B. Parental consent is optional for minors.
• C. Informed consent is only for adults and not parents.
• D. Consent is not needed for psychology.

Answer: (A)

Informed consent means that a person understands what will happen in a procedure or study—the steps involved, potential risks and benefits, and their rights (including the right to withdraw)—and freely agrees to participate. For minors, a parent or guardian must give that permission because they are legally unable to make all decisions for themselves. At the same time, the child should be asked to assent, meaning they agree in a way appropriate to their level of understanding. This ensures the participation is voluntary and protects the child’s safety and developing autonomy. In psychology, this ethical requirement is foundational and applies to both treatment and research. The other statements miss this essential point: parental consent isn’t optional for minors, informed consent isn’t only for adults, and psychology activities do require consent.