ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RESEARCH INVOLVING CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE
Abstract
The importance of ethics in research design and practice cannot be overstated. Ethical standards exist to protect participants from harm, coercion, or exploitation. Vulnerable populations require special considerations to protect them from unethical research practices, lack of informed consent, or coercion whether intentional or not. Youth placed in foster care represent a unique population of children who require additional protections. This paper details the unique vulnerabilities of foster youth, the reasons these vulnerabilities exist, and what researchers, reviewers, editors, and IRB personnel can do to mitigate the risks to foster youth within the standards of ethical research.
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