Question

A therapist at a free university clinic treats elementary school children with behavior problems who are referred by a social service agency. She is also a doctoral candidate who proposes using data she has and will collect about the children for a case-based research project. Which of the following statements about parental permission is correct??(A) The superintendent of the school system can give permission for children to be in the study; therefore, the therapist doesn’t have to ask the parents for permission.(B) The therapist creates her clients’ records; therefore, she does not need parents’ permission to use the information for research purposes.(C) If it is the best interests of the community that the children participate in the study, parental permission is optional.(D) The parents of the children might feel pressure to give permission to the therapist to use their children’s data so that she will continue to provide services to their children.

Answer 1

Answer:

(D) The parents of the children might feel pressure to give permission to the therapist to use their children’s data so that she will continue to provide services to their children.

Explanation:

In this example, there is a conflict of interest, as the regular therapist of the children is also the person who will conduct the study and who requires the parents' consent. This could prove to be a difficult situation, as the parents might feel obligated to give permission to the therapist in order to ensure that the children continue receiving her services.