ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the Conceptual Model upon which the Narrative Approach to meaningful informed consent is based. The chapter starts by considering the importance of forward planning of child-orientated informed consent and the various complexities that are inherent in the design of such a process. To assist researchers to accommodate these expectations six major concepts of meaningful informed consent are presented: children’s rights, human ethics protocols, children’s competence, participatory research, interaction and narrative. Narrative, as a valid meaning-making tool and an appropriate method for engaging children in discussion about issues that affect them, is explored in detail. Finally, the concepts of rights, ethics, capacity, participation and interaction are examined in relation to how they enhance children’s understanding of the informed consent process through the use of narrative. The chapter explores how factual narratives can connect children to the wider world, providing enjoyment, a source of new ideas, and information about societal values and traditions. The Conceptual Model is presented as an accessible and engaging means to respect young children’s emerging capabilities, facilitate the child’s informed decision-making, and as a means to deliver accurate information that is contextualised for understanding.
