Abstract
Researchers in the Department of Psychology wish to conduct a study of the reactions of young children upon realising that they have failed to fulfil a responsibility. The researchers want to find out how children react and feel when they fail to do something that they should and which they have agreed to do. This will improve counselling of parents and contribute to the understanding of child psychology.
The child will be asked by one of the investigators to stay alone in a room to watch over a box of four live kittens for a five minute period. The child will be asked to make sure that the kittens stay safely in the box. During the second minute, a buzzer will be set off directly behind the child, sounding for a number of seconds and hopefully causing the child to turn towards the sound. While the child’s eyes are diverted, someone will slip a hand through a slot in the wall into the box and remove one of the kittens. Over the next five minutes the child’s reactions to the missing kitten will be observed through a one-way window. Then the investigator will return, notice that a kitten is missing, ask the child where the fourth kitten is, and listen to the child’s story of what happened. They will then tell the child not to worry – that the kitten can’t have gone far and will surely show up. The child will be thanked and taken out to its parent.
Prospective participants should be eight years old. At this age children should have reasonable language ability, the ability to count and be aware that there is one less kitten.
Over a three month period, 30 children will be recruited on Saturday mornings when they attend the local leisure centre. Parents will be asked for consent, and informed of the purpose and design of the research. There will be no benefit to the children taking part. No financial or other incentives will be offered to parents. However, they will have travel expenses to the University reimbursed. Risks are taken to be small – potentially some anxiety or embarrassment but lasting no more than a few minutes.
Would you approve this study?
Would you consider it low risk research?
Would you require any changes prior to approval?