Abstract
BackgroundCurrently, there are approximately 15,800 young people aged under 18 who are involved with the
Criminal Justice System (CJS) in England and Wales. Young people in the CJS constitute a
vulnerable population and are often involved in research within the different stages of the CJS.
However, there are several internal and external factors that may impact on the quality of informed
consent given by young people in research that is carried out in the CJS which should be addressed.
Aim
The aim of this PhD study is to make recommendations for developing and using an app for gaining
consent from young people in research studies in the CJS in England and Wales.
Methods
In order to achieve the above aim, the following methods were undertaken:
A literature review to explore the life experiences of young people who are involved with
the CJS in England and Wales and their impact on research competence,
A literature review to explore external factors that are related to the informed consent
process with young people and specifically, those who are involved with the CJS in
England and Wales, as well as the implementation of digital technologies in the informed
consent process,
Semi-structured online interviews with university ethics committee members and
university researchers from across England and Wales, to explore the key ethical and
consent issues needed to be addressed, and what is needed to be included in an app to gain
ethical approval,
Semi-structured online interviews with people from across England and Wales who were
involved with the CJS when they were aged under 18, to explore their views about how an
app could be designed and used, to gain consent in research studies with young people in
the CJS,
Triangulation and recommendations for developing and using an app for gaining consent
from young people in research studies in the CJS in England and Wales.
Results
The first literature review depicted the picture around the life experiences of young people aged
under 18 who are involved with the CJS in England and Wales and their potential impact on
research competence. The second literature review indicated external factors that may impact the
informed consent process when research is carried out with young people in and out of the CJS in
England and Wales, and explored the implementation of digital technologies in the informed
consent process.
Ten interviews with university ethics committee members and university researchers across
England and Wales were conducted. Four themes were identified: 1) safeguarding young people
in research who are involved with the CJS, 2) gaining informed consent from young people in
research who are involved with the CJS, 3) challenges in obtaining voluntary consent in research
with young people who are involved with the CJS, and 4) using an app for gaining consent in
research with young people who are involved with the CJS.
Eighteen interviews with people who have been involved with the CJS in England and Wales when
they were aged under 18 were conducted. Three themes were identified: 1) educating young people
about the concept of consent in research, 2) challenges in obtaining informed consent in research
with young people, and 3) using an app for gaining consent in research with young people.
The findings from the literature review and the qualitative research were combined to formulate
the recommendations for developing and using an app for gaining consent from young people in
research studies in the CJS.
Conclusions
Involving young people in research in the CJS and gaining informed consent from them is a
challenging, complicated and multidimensional issue. This study explored the factors and reasons
behind those complexities. The study presents recommendations for developing and using an app
for consent purposes and measures that must be implemented during the consent and research
process in order to empower young people and involve them in a meaningful, appropriate and
ethical way in those processes.
| Date of Award | 19 Oct 2022 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Julien Cordry (Supervisor), Justin Kotzé (Supervisor) & Dorothy Newbury-Birch (Supervisor) |