REFERRING AND REPORTING RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS AT RISK - VIEWS FROM URBAN ADOLESCENTS

Researching developmental risks of urban youth raises ethical concerns when an investigator discovers a participant is in jeopardy. This stu dy collected data on 147 seventh, ninth, and eleventh graders' views o f 3 investigator options: (1) taking no action and maintaining confide ntiality, (2) reporting the problem to a concerned parent or adult, an d (3) facilitating adolescent self-referrals. Participants judged thes e options within the context of 5 risk domains: substance abuse, child maltreatment, life-threatening behaviors, delinquency, and shyness. j udgments of reporting options were related to grade and ratings of ris k severity, but not to moral reasoning. Confidentiality was viewed fav orably for risk behaviors of low perceived severity or for which the c onsequences of adult discovery might introduce greater risk. Confident iality was viewed unfavorably and reporting to adults favorably for ch ild maltreatment and threats of suicide. Self-referral was viewed favo rably across all grades and risk behaviors. Implications of adolescent perspectives for research ethics are discussed.