A researcher plans sensitive interviews with schoolchildren. Which procedure best addresses consent and confidentiality ethically?

Correct answer: Obtain consent and assent, with stated confidentiality limits. Obtaining consent (from parents or guardians) and assent (from the children), while stating the limits of confidentiality, is the ethically sound approach.

• Rely solely on the headteacher's approval for every participant. The headteacher’s approval alone does not replace consent and assent.
• Promise complete confidentiality even when safeguarding concerns arise. Complete confidentiality cannot be promised when safeguarding concerns arise.
• Record identifiable responses and retain them for external verification. Retaining identifiable recordings for external verification puts privacy at risk.