A new sexuality education curriculum (also called “family life education” or FLE) is being tested in 10 middle schools. As part of the evaluation, a survey will be administered to a sample of classes in 10 schools that have implemented the FLE curriculum and in 10 classes in schools using the old curriculum. The survey will be administered before the curriculum is implemented and again after the school year is over. Data from baseline and end-of-project surveys will be linked for each participant. The average age of the students in these classes is 13 years. Students will be asked about drug use, sexual experience, sexually transmitted infection knowledge, etc.

Sexuality education has been taught in these schools before, but the curriculum being tested uses an innovative teaching methodology. The country is culturally very conservative and sexual issues are not usually openly discussed. Schools in this country do not usually require parental consent for any kind of data collection or evaluation of curricula. Principals and teachers at the schools have told researchers that it will be very difficult to get written parental consent and that they would prefer not to try. Difficulties in getting consent are not related to parents’ disapproval of their children’s participation, but rather a general lack of involvement in students’ school life in general and the students’ difficulty in getting papers signed and returned. Many children do not even live with their own parents.

Questions: (Click on the possible answers.)

1. Given the country’s conservative culture, should parental permission be sought for this study?

1. The research takes place in the schools. School officials should decide matters of parental permission.
   
   

2. No; the participants are over 12 years old.
   
   

3. Yes; parents have a right to know what their children are being taught, particularly concerning issues related to sexuality.
   
   

4. No; obtaining parental permission may bias the answers that students provide.

2. If it is determined that parental permission is not required, what mechanisms could be incorporated to ensure that students participate voluntarily and to protect them from peer pressure, discrimination by teachers, etc?

1. A teacher-parent advisory committee could be formed to review the study procedure in order to provide feedback to the researchers about concerns for the children involved in the study.
   
   

2. A parent from each class could be asked to be present during the survey administration. 
   
   

3. Information about the survey is sent home to parents.
   
   

4. Informed consent could be obtained privately from each individual.