ABSTRACT
Using an interactive storybook of a research project to inform young children about their participation is an innovative approach to informed consent. As part of a series addressing young children’s rights and participation in research, this paper reports the second trial of the Narrative Approach and how informed consent delivered using an interactive storybook can enhance young children’s participation. A multiple case study research design was utilised. Data were collected from 9 child/parent dyads from three playgroups in metropolitan and regional areas of Western Australia. Over a period of 11 to 16 weeks, methods of data collection included audio- and video-recorded conversations with 3- and 4- year-old children and semi-structured interviews with parents on three occasions, together with photographs, computer screenshots and researcher observations. The children were observed to relate well to the information conveyed through the interactive story, and were found to understand the context and purpose of the research, their participatory right to opt out, and how to document their consent. The Narrative Approach was found to positively impact children’s participation in the ethics process through interaction with the digital story which supported rich understandings of the purpose and context of the research.
