Through the community looking glass: Reevaluating the ethical and policy implications of research on adolescent risk and psychopathology

Drawing on a conception of scientists and community members as partners in the construction of ethically responsible research practices, this article urges investigators to seek the perspectives of teenagers and parents in ev aluating the personal and political costs and benefits of research on adole scent risk behaviors. Content analysis of focus group discussions involving over 100 parents and teenagers from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backg rounds revealed community opinions regarding the scientific merit, social v alue, racial bias, and participant and group harms and benefits associated with surveys, informant reports, intervention studies, blood sampling, and genetic research on youth problems. Participant comments highlight new dire ctions for socially responsible research.