Compass for Research Ethics

Key areas of research ethics

The nine key areas related to research ethics with a particular focus on engaging children and young people in research, provide concise overviews of researchers' most frequently asked questions, provide valuable starting points, raise and discuss critical considerations and point to selected literature for early career and experienced researchers.

The focus of the CO:RE Compass for Research Ethics is on ethical considerations that arise when engaging in research with children and young people. This kind of research tends to highlight and intensify ethical dilemmas, for example when considering how to secure informed consent from research participants. At the same time, research ethics apply to everyone involved in research. We, therefore, wish to emphasise that all of the principles, rules and tools cited here also apply to research with adults and will therefore be relevant for all kinds of researchers.

What are research ethics?

How are research ethics different from legal requirements?
Do research ethics apply to my project?
What kind of ethical principles should I be aware of?
Is there anything specific I need to consider when researching with or about children in online contexts? If so, what might it be?

What are key ethical considerations in online research with children?

Which ethical considerations arise when recruiting children and young people to online research projects?
How can researchers support the participation of children and young people in online research?
What factors can support researchers in assessing the relative privacy or publicity of data accessed in online research?

What is ethical informed consent?

What kind of ethical principles should I be aware of?
Is legal consent sufficient?
What is the difference between consent and assent?

What to consider when engaging children as co-researchers?

What do I need to think about when engaging children as co-researchers?
What kind of knowledge might I access in this way?
What skills and competences might children need in order to act as co-researchers and how will they gain these skills?

Protecting and promoting children's rights and agency in research

How can research be undertaken in a way that is respectful of children’s rights?
How might children’s participation in research be influenced by power relations?
How can children’s perspectives and voices be respected and taken into account in research contexts?
What aspects of the online environment complicate these issues?

Processing sensitive personal data in research with children

What is sensitive personal data, and when can researchers who work with children and young people process personal data?
How can sensitive personal data be accessed, stored and analysed?
How can children and young people’s privacy, anonymity and personal integrity be respected and protected in research?

What are ethical incentives and beneficence?

What is beneficence, and how is this considered and understood in the context of different research projects?

How can I ensure that my research is conducted in accordance with this principle?
What aspects might introduce conflict with the concept of beneficence?

How to deal with breaches of research integrity and incidental findings?

What steps can I take to report a suspected breach of research integrity?

What agencies will be able to assist in addressing this situation?

Further resources, regulations and rules

All relevant resources on research ethics collated in one place.

Explore further CO:RE resources on research ethics

Blogs

Reading lists

Webinars

Resources

More CO:RE toolkits & resources

Evidence Base & Data Directory

Theories Toolkit

Methods Toolkit & Handbook

Resources for Policymakers

Education Toolkit

Created by

CO:RE at UiO

Ethical Issues

The team at UiO works on research ethical considerations and develops the CO:RE compass for research ethics. This tool collates a broad digital portfolio of resources on research ethics towards researchers, informants, and others, enhancing the understanding of how to conduct research with and in collaboration with children and young people. It also cross-references to all other CO:RE tools and complements them with and ethical lense.

Elisabeth Staksrud

Elisabeth Staksrud is a full professor at the Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo (NO). She is principal investigator in EU Kids Online Norway and part of the EU Kids Online management team, and in 2018 she lead and coordinated the European survey and data collection in the project (9-17-year-olds in 10+ countries). She is leader of the CO:RE work package 7 on research ethics.

Niamh Ní Bhroin

Niamh Ní Bhroin is a Researcher at the Department of Media and Communication at the University of Oslo (NO) and a member of the CO:RE work package 7 on research ethics. Her research focuses on children’s and young people’s use of new media and on related research ethical issues.

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Compass for Research Ethics